Follow Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization …
351
both quantity and quality, stick to a scientific approach, and make proper plans in
light of local conditions; we must make unremitting efforts to pursue green development in a scientific, eco-friendly and thrifty manner, enlarge the area and improve the
quality of forests, and improve the quality and stability of ecosystems. In 2019, Xi
Jinping reiterated that China still faced serious ecological problems and that the lack
of forests and vegetation, and a fragile ecological environment remained problems
that need tremendous efforts to tackle. He gave the instruction that we must carry
forward the good tradition of caring for, planting and protecting trees, and called
for public participation nationwide to promote massive afforestation and achieve
tangible results.
Forestry refers to activities to cultivate, protect and use forest resources by means
of technologies and management skills. Making full use of forest’s functions and
utilizing forest resources in a sustainable way, forestry is a fundamental industry for
public benefit which facilitates the coordinated development of population, economy,
society, environment and resources and contributes to building a clean, beautiful and
green environment. In China, the conservation and governance of wetlands, deserts
and biodiversity are also considered part of forestry.
In the institutional reform of 2018, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration was established under the Ministry of Natural Resources, taking over all the
responsibilities from the former State Forestry Administration, the grassland management responsibility from the Ministry of Agriculture and the management of nature
reserves, scenic areas, natural heritage sites, and geological parks from the Ministry of
Land and Resources, Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Ministry
of Water Resources, Ministry of Agriculture, and State Oceanic Administration. The
reform significantly expanded the mandate of forestry authorities, putting in their
charge forests, grasslands, wetlands, deserts, terrestrial wildlife, national parks and
other nature reserves, as well as afforestation and ecological progress, including
national voluntary tree planting and greening campaigns in urban and rural areas.
As we can see, forestry in the new era covers most terrestrial ecosystems and a
few offshore wetland ecosystems and marine and island ecosystems. It plays an
indispensable and irreplaceable role in sustainable supply of natural resources and
high-quality ecological products, building a beautiful environment in urban and rural
areas, and ensuring ecological security.
3 Measures to Promote Forestry Development in the New
Era
The report to the 19th National Congress of the CPC specified goals for the three
stages on our way to a modern socialist China, i.e. completing the building of a
moderately prosperous society in all respects by 2020, basically realizing socialist
modernization by 2035, and becoming a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful by 2050.
351
both quantity and quality, stick to a scientific approach, and make proper plans in
light of local conditions; we must make unremitting efforts to pursue green development in a scientific, eco-friendly and thrifty manner, enlarge the area and improve the
quality of forests, and improve the quality and stability of ecosystems. In 2019, Xi
Jinping reiterated that China still faced serious ecological problems and that the lack
of forests and vegetation, and a fragile ecological environment remained problems
that need tremendous efforts to tackle. He gave the instruction that we must carry
forward the good tradition of caring for, planting and protecting trees, and called
for public participation nationwide to promote massive afforestation and achieve
tangible results.
Forestry refers to activities to cultivate, protect and use forest resources by means
of technologies and management skills. Making full use of forest’s functions and
utilizing forest resources in a sustainable way, forestry is a fundamental industry for
public benefit which facilitates the coordinated development of population, economy,
society, environment and resources and contributes to building a clean, beautiful and
green environment. In China, the conservation and governance of wetlands, deserts
and biodiversity are also considered part of forestry.
In the institutional reform of 2018, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration was established under the Ministry of Natural Resources, taking over all the
responsibilities from the former State Forestry Administration, the grassland management responsibility from the Ministry of Agriculture and the management of nature
reserves, scenic areas, natural heritage sites, and geological parks from the Ministry of
Land and Resources, Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Ministry
of Water Resources, Ministry of Agriculture, and State Oceanic Administration. The
reform significantly expanded the mandate of forestry authorities, putting in their
charge forests, grasslands, wetlands, deserts, terrestrial wildlife, national parks and
other nature reserves, as well as afforestation and ecological progress, including
national voluntary tree planting and greening campaigns in urban and rural areas.
As we can see, forestry in the new era covers most terrestrial ecosystems and a
few offshore wetland ecosystems and marine and island ecosystems. It plays an
indispensable and irreplaceable role in sustainable supply of natural resources and
high-quality ecological products, building a beautiful environment in urban and rural
areas, and ensuring ecological security.
3 Measures to Promote Forestry Development in the New
Era
The report to the 19th National Congress of the CPC specified goals for the three
stages on our way to a modern socialist China, i.e. completing the building of a
moderately prosperous society in all respects by 2020, basically realizing socialist
modernization by 2035, and becoming a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful by 2050.