Since 2004, the area of the public welfare forest in Zhejiang has increased by 16,113,500 mu. The proportion of the area of broadleaf forest and mixed broadleaf-conifer forest with strong ecological function has increased by 29.17%. According to the national forestry industry standard, the ecological value of public welfare forests at or above the provincial level has increased by three times.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the implementation of the forest ecological compensation system in Zhejiang. On December 11, Zhejiang Province disclosed for the first time its public welfare forest construction achievements made in the past 15 years. This system has encouraged Zhejiang Province to change from cutting trees and felling forests to closing mountains and cultivating forests, and then to develop an ecological economy, which has not only protected the lucid waters and lush mountains in Zhejiang but also brought about invaluable wealth to Zhejiang. It is an important step for our province to promote the modernization of the ecological environment management system and governance capacity.

Public welfare forests have created a good ecological environment and brought the most benefits to people's livelihood. In 2018, the construction area of public welfare forests above the provincial level reached 45,356,800 mu, equivalent to 0.8 mu per capita in our province, which has become an important ecological barrier.

"Protecting the ecological environment is to protect the productive forces, improving the ecological environment is to develop the productive forces," said Jiang Zhonglong, head of Zhejiang Provincial Public Welfare Forest and State-owned Forest Farm Management Station. Through taking such measures as developing color forests and precious trees, we have shaped wonderful forest landscapes, which have created conditions for our province’s big garden construction and beautiful economic development.

Executive Editor: Ye Ke

Translation: Ye Ke, Chen Wenjing