Zhejiang province has recently issued the "Opinions on Strengthening the Protection and Restoration of Natural Forests" (“the opinion”). 

According to the opinion, deforestation and reclamation, transformation of natural forests into artificial forests and other behaviors that damage natural forests and the ecological environment should be prohibited. Besides, commercial logging of natural forests should be completely stopped. And transplanting natural trees into cities as well as cutting down natural forests should be forbidden.

“The opinion” emphasizes promoting the green development of natural forest actively. On the premise of not destroying the surface vegetation and not affecting the protection of biodiversity, natural forestland can moderately develop green industries such as leisure tourism, forest health and under-forest economy and expand the transformation channels of "two mountains" , thus increasing the income of forest farmers as well as promoting the revitalization of rural areas.

“The opinion” called for improving the supervision system for the protection and restoration of natural forests, and establishing county-level self-inspection and provincial-level review mechanisms for the protection of natural forests. The results of natural forest protection and restoration will be included in the audit of officials' natural resource assets, which will serve as an important reference for the comprehensive evaluation of local party committees, governments and leading officials at all levels. Public interest litigation may be filed in accordance with the law if natural forests are destroyed and public interests are damaged.

“The Opinions” make it clear that by the end of 2020, 3.36 million hectares of natural forest resources will be effectively managed and protected. 1.07 million hectares of natural commercial forest will be banned from commercial logging, and a system for protecting and restoring natural forests will be basically established. By 2025, the total area of natural arbor forests will reach about 3 million hectares, and the stock volume of natural arbor forests will reach about 240 million cubic meters. All natural forests in key areas will be integrated with the management of non-commercial forests. Natural forest ecosystems will be gradually restored, and the system for protecting and restoring natural forests will be further improved. By 2035, the number of natural forests in the province will remain stable, and the quality of natural forests will be significantly improved. Additionally, the ecosystem of natural forests will be effectively restored. Biodiversity will be scientifically protected, and ecological carrying capacity will be significantly improved.

(Compiled by Xu Yuhong, translated by Yu Fei)