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Chinese Scholar Calls for Scientific Afforestation
Unless scientific steps are taken, the ambitious program to afforest China's vast and dry western region would be in vain, warned a Chinese scholar at the annual conference of the China Association for Science and Technology, which opened in Xi'an Sunday.
Jiang Zehui, president of the China Academy of Forestry, said that the barren west, which usually reminds people of dry river valleys, hot underground springs, karst hills and deserts, demands a scientific reforestation program.
China has embarked on several large environmental programs such as "green for grain," sand control and natural forest preservation.
Jiang said that concerned government departments and institutions have done scientific planning and backed up these programs scientifically.
She pointed out that China has had an edge on the research of afforestation in dry, coastal and mountainous biosystems, but it needs to improve the scientific management of forested areas to ensure the survival of the trees.
She said that a modern forestry industry needs advanced science and technology as well as public attention on forestry cultivation, which can help improve the different functions and economic value of forests.
According to sources at the meeting, a special team of experts was set up under the State Forestry Administration to help with the afforestation of the western region.
China's forest coverage rate has increased to 16.55 percent from 8.6 percent in 1949, when the People's Republic was founded. The country now has the world's largest afforested area.
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