Timber Imports to Remain Stable as Logging Banned

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, May 15, 2002

Timber Imports to Remain Stable as Logging Banned

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China is expected to continue to import 20 million cubic meters of timber annually even though a logging ban is being gradually imposed in many areas, says Lei Jiafu, deputy director of the State Forestry Administration (SFA) Tuesday.

At a press conference held in Beijing, he said that "China is cutting logging quotas in natural forests while more timber will be produced from forests planted for commercial use."

About 60 percent of the country's timber supply is from natural forests now and the government expects the figure to drop to 30 percent.

China is carrying out a 10-year program to protect natural forests in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River as well as northeast China and Inner Mongolia, where major timber production bases are located.

The timber output in these areas will be cut by 19.9 million cubic meters by the completion of the program.

Besides, the country is launching another five key forestry programs and the planned reforestation is mainly to cope with environmental problems such as soil erosion and sandstorms.

Effect from reduction in logging quotas "won't be excessive"

There are worries about the timber output reduction and expected increase in timber imports as the country now consumes 370 million cubic meters of timber every year.

The reduction in logging quotas in natural forests will have an impact on the domestic timber market but the effect "won't be excessive," Lei noted.

China plans to develop 13.33 million hectares of forests for commercial use in 18 eastern provinces over the next 15 years.

As about 130 million cubic meters of timber is expected to be produced, equal to 40 percent of domestic timber demand in 2015, the supply of timber will meet the demand, Lei said.

The Chinese government will make still harder efforts to update the related technology and equipment in the timber processing industry in a bid to save forestry resources.

Related Story: Ban on Logging Saves Forests

China has stopped commercial logging of its natural forest in 13 provinces and autonomous regions, upstream from the Yangtze River, and the areas on the middle and upper reaches of the Yellow River.

Following such a massive logging ban, a strategy was launched after the devastating 1998 summer floods on the Yangtze to rehabilitate the worsening ecosystem, and forest authorities have stepped up efforts to recover and increase forest resources there, a leading forest official announced. full text

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