China relaxing its control over the forestry sector

Public sector has growing role in China’s forest management according to a new paper published in the journal Science

China’s reforms in its forestry sector have slowed deforestation, improved environmental quality, and enhanced the competitiveness of Chinese wood products despite pressure from growing internal demand for wood products and a profitable export market, according to an assessment published in Science. The authors say the trend towards public sector management of forests is likely to grow.

Guangyu Wang of the University of British Columbia and coauthors say that the Chinese government — which has invested roughly $20 billion in the forestry sector during the past five years and looks to spend about $72 billion during the next five — is “using private sector financing to open the forests to greater individual and corporate involvement,” according to a statement from Science. While the government will likely remain in charge of planning, zoning, land-use rights, ownership, policy direction and regulations for maintaining sustainable forest management, the public sector will increasingly provide forest management services, including logging, road building, and developing nurseries and new wood products.

The Chinese government seeks to increase China’s forest cover to 26 percent by 2050.

CITATION: Wang, G. et al (2007). “China’s Forestry Reforms.” Science, December 7, 2007

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Rhett Butler Editor

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