The State Forestry Administration (SFA) has approved 64 new national forest parks across the country to protect natural resources and boost tourism, an official with the SFA said. 

The SFA has required that overall plans be made in the parks, and any permanent construction project cannot start before the plans are approved. In addition, the plans should focus on appropriate development and sustainable utilization.

China's first forest park was established in 1982 in Zhangjiajie in central Hunan Province. Since then, forest parks have become popular tourist destinations, said the official, adding that tourists to these parks have been increasing at an annual rate of 30 percent since 1990.

After the approval, the total number of forest parks stands at 1,540, with 503 national forest parks. 

(Xinhua News Agency January 19, 2004)