A nationwide probe into illegal requisition of woodlands for development projects, a problem that will continue to nibble away at China's precious forests if not controlled, was launched on Tuesday.

The investigation, the seventh of its kind, will be a comprehensive look at all projects using woodlands, a forest official said. Spot checks have been carried out since 1998.

Xiao Xingwei, director of the Department of Forest Resources, State Forestry Administration (SFA), said that priority is being given to woodlands taken over by development zones and golf courses illegally set up by local authorities.

Authorities will also look into unapproved uses of woodlands and illegal transfers for non-forestry uses.

Under China's Forestry Law, projects that occupy woodlands must be approved by forestry authorities. Fees are charged for vegetation rehabilitation in an area equivalent to the one destroyed.

Any project that uses more than 10 hectares must be approved by the SFA, while smaller projects have to be checked by provincial forestry departments.

Those who destroy farmland or forested area could face up to five years in jail if convicted.

However, some profit-hungry local governments have become involved in various illegal woodlands projects. There have been cases of embezzlement of compensation charged for forest rehabilitation and logging certificates have been issued for unapproved projects, Xiao said.

In north China's Shanxi Province, for instance, a freeway project between Yuncheng and Sanmenxia took more than 161 hectares of woodlands owned by local farmers without any approval.

Also in Shanxi, a local mining company and the Jiexiu municipal government took over more than 34 hectares of forest, mostly owned by the state, for a tourism development project. They too lacked official approval, said Wang Zhuxiong, also with the Department of Forest Resources.

Although the SFA has urged Shanxi Province to investigate the two cases since 2002, no reports have been submitted.

Wang said there might be some regional protectionism behind both cases.

"Regional protectionism is the major obstacle to China's protection of woodland resources," Xiao said.

China's forest coverage rate today is less than 17 percent, or only 61 percent of the world average, owing to chronic land reclamation for farming, according to the SFA.

Illegal projects by local governments have increased in number as the country's economy grows.

"Forest resources are suffering serious damage while some local authorities either illegally take over woodlands for their own projects or support such activities," Xiao said.

China's wooded area is only 4.6 percent of the world average, and the per capita figure is less than 13 percent of the global average.

(China Daily April 7, 2004)