Global warming may weaken China's plantation industry: report

The capacity of China's plantation industry might decline as a result of global warming, according to a report released during a new round of UN climate talks being held in north China's Tianjin Municipality from Oct. 4 to 9.

If no proper measures were taken, the capacity of China's plantation industry might decline by 5 to 10 percent by 2030, characterized by a reduction in the output of wheat, rice and corn, said the report, released by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and several other organizations during the conference.

"The situation may get worse after 2050," the report warned.

It said the soaring content of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would have a "significant" impact on the output of wheat, rice and corn.

Also, higher temperatures might put more farmland in China at risk from of insect damage and forest fires, the report explained.

Further, some farmland might be inundated if the sea level rises as a result of global warming, it said.

China has only about 7 percent of the world's arable land, while feeding more than 1.3 billion people which accounts for about 20 percent of the world' s population.

Source:Xinhua