Nearly a Quarter of China Could Be Forest by 2020

[Farbeyonddriven]

A UN report details the reforestation plan as part of China's "eco-civilization" program.




Rolfmueller, via Wikimedia


Forests could cover 23 percent of China's landmass by the year 2020 if the country is successful in the development of its "ecological civilization" program, according to a recent report by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

The report, "Green is Gold: The Strategy and Actions of China's Ecological Civilization," notes that, since opening up its economy 30 years ago, the country has undergone economic growth at an average rate of 9.8 percent per year, successfully transitioning from a low-income to a high-middle-income nation in that time. That has brought considerable economic benefits, but it has come at a cost to the environment and human health, particularly in the form of chronic air pollution in many of its cities -- and the fact that China is now the planet's No. 1 emitter of greenhouse gases.

In 2007, Xi Jinping, now China's president, began advocating for the concept of an "ecological civilization." Five years later, it was elevated to a national strategy. Zhu Guangyao, executive vice president of the Chinese Ecological Civilization Research and Promotion Association,explains rather breathlessly that ecological civilization "is a new concept in the development of human civilization. It refers to material, spiritual and organizational achievements in following objective laws of harmonious human, social and natural development."

RELATED: Could China Stop Illegal Wildlife Trafficking?

All of which sounds fine in principle, although it has been noted that, "Chinese leaders are keener on coming up with slogans than implementing them." In the words of one observer: "I can't pretend to know how serious China's leaders are with respect to their stated goal of achieving an "ecological civilization," and one certainly can't help but notice the irony when looking at the pollution belching out of smoke stacks as you travel to and from the airport," but, that same observer notes, "authoritarian leadership, like it or not, has pointed to a spot on a distant horizon and set change in motion."

By the end of 2014, the UNEP report notes, China had built 10.5 billion square meters of energy-saving buildings in urban areas -- roughly 38 per cent of the total area of urban residential buildings. In addition, China's production of new-energy vehicles increased 45-fold between 2011 and 2015. The country has also built the largest air-quality monitoring network in the developing world, and lowered energy consumption per unit of GDP and the amount of CO2 released per unit of GDP.

The program plans to build on such achievements by, in addition to increasing forest cover, increasing prairie vegetation coverage by 56 percent, reclaiming more than half of reclaimable desert and preserving at least 35 percent of the natural shorelines. Other targets include cutting water consumption by 23 percent, energy consumption by 15 percent and carbon emissions per unit of GDP by 18 percent, and reaching peak CO2 emissions by 2030.

"If China succeeds in achieving these targets," said UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner, "then it will have taken a major step towards shifting to a greener economy that uses resources more efficiently, limits the risks of climate change and improves the health of its people."
http://www.seeker.com/forests-to-cover-nearly-25-of-china-by-2020-1843957373.html

 

[JSCh]

26 May 2016
Forests to cover 25% of China in “eco-civilization” project

Nearly one quarter of China will be covered in forest by 2020 if the country implements its "eco-civilization" project, according to a new UN report.

The study was launched on Thursday by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) at the second UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-2) in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.

UNEP has released a series of reports at the Assembly that look at how countries can implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the first universally binding climate change agreement signed in December in Paris.

The reports assesses China's plan to build an "ecological civilization", Bhutan's use of its novel Gross National Happiness Index, Germany's attempts to build a circular economy, Costa Rica's use of Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) and Botswana's Natural Capital Accounting.

The research shows that, although Bhutan faces challenges related to socioeconomic issues, and trade and aid dependency, the country has made "impressive progress in recent years".

Costa Rica's PES initiative has also achieved significant results, with nearly 15,000 contracts signed with landowners to improve land management.

The programme has worked in over one million hectares of forests and has distributed over $300 million, according to the UNEP study.

Germany's attempts to implement circular economy principles to its waste management strategy has led to significant increases in recycling rates, created thousands of green jobs and improved resource efficiency.

UNEP's Green is Gold report also analyses the environmental dimension of China's 13th five-year plan.

Under the plan, China has pledged to cut water consumption by 23 per cent by, energy consumption by 15 per cent and carbon emissions per unit of GDP by 18 per cent, all by 2020.

The "eco-civilization" plan will also see China increase its forest coverage to more than 23 per cent by 2020 and the share of days per year with good air quality in cities at the prefectural level will exceed 80 per cent.

The plan is designed to create a resource-saving, environmentally-friendly society that integrates ecological development with economic, social, cultural and political progress.

UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said: "There are numerous tools available for countries to develop an inclusive green economy, and in this report we see examples from across the developed and developing worlds.”

Mr Steiner added: "There is no one path to a low-carbon economy, but rather many different opportunities for countries to transform their economies and societies, and orient themselves toward sustainable development. The multiple pathways outlined in this report offer insight into what might work, and are a resource for governments looking to address resource and environmental challenges in non-traditional ways."

The UNEP report shows that by the end of 2014, China had built 10.5 billion m2 of energy-saving buildings in urban areas – about 38 per cent of the total area of urban residential buildings.

China's production of electric and hybrid vehicles also increased by 45-fold between 2011 and 2015.

China has also built the largest air-quality monitoring network in the developing world with 338 Chinese cities at the prefectural level and above now capable of monitoring six different air quality indicators.

Mr Steiner said: "If China succeeds in achieving these targets then it will have taken a major step towards shifting to a greener economy that uses resources more efficiently, limits the risks of climate change and improves the health of its people.”


Forests to cover 25% of China in “eco-civilization” project - Climate Action Programme

 

[T-Rex]

It will be wonderful for the atmosphere but the question is can China tackle the pollution that has poisoned her environment quite extensively?

 

[JSCh]

China to step up support for green sector: top economic planner
Xinhua, August 13, 2016

China's top economic planner has pledged more efforts to support the green sector after the country fulfilled its energy-saving targets and saw the environment improve in the first half of this year.

A national plan will be drafted on the development of energy-saving and environmentally friendly industries for the 2016-2020 period, according to a latest statement from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

The government will encourage more qualified companies to issue green bonds, the NDRC said.

It will also consider setting up a fund to support the green industry and attract private investment.

Tax breaks will continue for firms using energy-saving and environmentally friendly equipment, the NDRC noted.

It said China made headway in energy saving and environmental protection in the first six months, with the energy consumption per 10,000 yuan (US$1,500) of GDP dropping 5.2 percent year on year, exceeding the annual target of 3.4 percent.

The country also saw lower emissions of major pollutants, with the density of PM2.5, a type of particulate matter that causes hazardous smog, falling 9.3 percent year on year.

In the first half, 338 cities saw the number of days with good air quality reach 76.7 percent of all days in the period, up from 72.7 percent a year earlier, NDRC figures showed.

 

[CHN Bamboo]

In some areas of China,the environment is hostile to most forms of vegetation.
It is meaningless to talk about overall vegetation coverage rate.
If this factor is considered,the government behoove calculate separately by province.

 

[Zibago]

In some areas of China,the environment is hostile to most forms of vegetation.

It is meaningless to talk about overall vegetation coverage rate.

If this factor is considered,the government behoove calculate separately by province

More forest cover will result in decreased air pollution and will result in more habitat for wild life which will increase tourism

 

[CHN Bamboo]

More forest cover will result in decreased air pollution and will result in more habitat for wild life which will increase tourism

....

Inland region--Hunan province(湖南省) has almost 60 percent of forest coverage rate while Xinjiang province has only 5%-(In 2010,Xinjiang has only 2%!!)

http://news.sina.com.cn/o/2015-03-18/222031620701.shtml

http://www.xjqnpx.com.cn/a/xinjiang/6662.html

Some places in China are not suitable for plant's survival,though local government has tried its best ...

And unfortunately,these places make up a large part of China's land.

 

[Zibago]

....

Inland region--Hunan province(湖南省) has almost 60 percent of forest coverage rate while Xinjiang province has only 5%-

http://news.sina.com.cn/o/2015-03-18/222031620701.shtml

http://www.xjqnpx.com.cn/a/xinjiang/6662.html

Some places are not suitable for plant's survival.

Xinyang is all mountain very few plants can grow in that harsh environment but those trees grow slowly

 

[Farbeyonddriven]

Most idealistically when China is fully developed,what do you think the forest coverage rate will be then for us? Like 33% similar to that of the USA,or be over 40% like Canada? I think the huge region China locates geographically is idealistically more lush than the USA on average

 

[Jlaw]

A UN report details the reforestation plan as part of China's "eco-civilization" program.




Rolfmueller, via Wikimedia


Forests could cover 23 percent of China's landmass by the year 2020 if the country is successful in the development of its "ecological civilization" program, according to a recent report by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

The report, "Green is Gold: The Strategy and Actions of China's Ecological Civilization," notes that, since opening up its economy 30 years ago, the country has undergone economic growth at an average rate of 9.8 percent per year, successfully transitioning from a low-income to a high-middle-income nation in that time. That has brought considerable economic benefits, but it has come at a cost to the environment and human health, particularly in the form of chronic air pollution in many of its cities -- and the fact that China is now the planet's No. 1 emitter of greenhouse gases.

In 2007, Xi Jinping, now China's president, began advocating for the concept of an "ecological civilization." Five years later, it was elevated to a national strategy. Zhu Guangyao, executive vice president of the Chinese Ecological Civilization Research and Promotion Association,explains rather breathlessly that ecological civilization "is a new concept in the development of human civilization. It refers to material, spiritual and organizational achievements in following objective laws of harmonious human, social and natural development."

RELATED: Could China Stop Illegal Wildlife Trafficking?

All of which sounds fine in principle, although it has been noted that, "Chinese leaders are keener on coming up with slogans than implementing them." In the words of one observer: "I can't pretend to know how serious China's leaders are with respect to their stated goal of achieving an "ecological civilization," and one certainly can't help but notice the irony when looking at the pollution belching out of smoke stacks as you travel to and from the airport," but, that same observer notes, "authoritarian leadership, like it or not, has pointed to a spot on a distant horizon and set change in motion."

By the end of 2014, the UNEP report notes, China had built 10.5 billion square meters of energy-saving buildings in urban areas -- roughly 38 per cent of the total area of urban residential buildings. In addition, China's production of new-energy vehicles increased 45-fold between 2011 and 2015. The country has also built the largest air-quality monitoring network in the developing world, and lowered energy consumption per unit of GDP and the amount of CO2 released per unit of GDP.

The program plans to build on such achievements by, in addition to increasing forest cover, increasing prairie vegetation coverage by 56 percent, reclaiming more than half of reclaimable desert and preserving at least 35 percent of the natural shorelines. Other targets include cutting water consumption by 23 percent, energy consumption by 15 percent and carbon emissions per unit of GDP by 18 percent, and reaching peak CO2 emissions by 2030.

"If China succeeds in achieving these targets," said UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner, "then it will have taken a major step towards shifting to a greener economy that uses resources more efficiently, limits the risks of climate change and improves the health of its people."
http://www.seeker.com/forests-to-cover-nearly-25-of-china-by-2020-1843957373.html

is this article mocking China? The leaders are serious. How often do you hear sandstorm in Beijing nowadays? Back in the 90s it was prevalent but thanks to reforestation outside of Beijing, sandstorm is rare.

If any country can set a goal and achieve it, it will be China.

It will be wonderful for the atmosphere but the question is can China tackle the pollution that has poisoned her environment quite extensively?

Of course. Not many people realized how polluted UK, US was during industrial revolution. But i'm sure you know pollution is worse in India than China? UN rank Indian cities worse than Chinese cities. At least in China they monitor all cities for AQI, something Indian cities are afraid to. IF they did and use Chinese standard, most of their cities would be shut down 25 days per month.

Most idealistically when China is fully developed,what do you think the forest coverage rate will be then for us? Like 33% similar to that of the USA,or be over 40% like Canada? I think the huge region China locates geographically is idealistically more lush than the USA on average

I think China will start reforesting desert area if not already started but will start soon. With new forest technology it's possible

 

[Three_Kingdoms]

It will be wonderful for the atmosphere but the question is can China tackle the pollution that has poisoned her environment quite extensively?

We are very concerned about it and so we are passing new laws to tackle the problems

China set to elevate environment over development in new law
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-environment-idUSBREA3E02H20140415

 

[AndrewJin]

is this article mocking China? The leaders are serious. How often do you hear sandstorm in Beijing nowadays? Back in the 90s it was prevalent but thanks to reforestation outside of Beijing, sandstorm is rare.

If any country can set a goal and achieve it, it will be China.



Of course. Not many people realized how polluted UK, US was during industrial revolution. But i'm sure you know pollution is worse in India than China? UN rank Indian cities worse than Chinese cities. At least in China they monitor all cities for AQI, something Indian cities are afraid to. IF they did and use Chinese standard, most of their cities would be shut down 25 days per month.



I think China will start reforesting desert area if not already started but will start soon. With new forest technology it's possible

We have done for decades reforesting desert area.....
See @Chinese Bamboo 's map

 

[X-2.]

A UN report details the reforestation plan as part of China's "eco-civilization" program.




Rolfmueller, via Wikimedia


Forests could cover 23 percent of China's landmass by the year 2020 if the country is successful in the development of its "ecological civilization" program, according to a recent report by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

The report, "Green is Gold: The Strategy and Actions of China's Ecological Civilization," notes that, since opening up its economy 30 years ago, the country has undergone economic growth at an average rate of 9.8 percent per year, successfully transitioning from a low-income to a high-middle-income nation in that time. That has brought considerable economic benefits, but it has come at a cost to the environment and human health, particularly in the form of chronic air pollution in many of its cities -- and the fact that China is now the planet's No. 1 emitter of greenhouse gases.

In 2007, Xi Jinping, now China's president, began advocating for the concept of an "ecological civilization." Five years later, it was elevated to a national strategy. Zhu Guangyao, executive vice president of the Chinese Ecological Civilization Research and Promotion Association,explains rather breathlessly that ecological civilization "is a new concept in the development of human civilization. It refers to material, spiritual and organizational achievements in following objective laws of harmonious human, social and natural development."

RELATED: Could China Stop Illegal Wildlife Trafficking?

All of which sounds fine in principle, although it has been noted that, "Chinese leaders are keener on coming up with slogans than implementing them." In the words of one observer: "I can't pretend to know how serious China's leaders are with respect to their stated goal of achieving an "ecological civilization," and one certainly can't help but notice the irony when looking at the pollution belching out of smoke stacks as you travel to and from the airport," but, that same observer notes, "authoritarian leadership, like it or not, has pointed to a spot on a distant horizon and set change in motion."

By the end of 2014, the UNEP report notes, China had built 10.5 billion square meters of energy-saving buildings in urban areas -- roughly 38 per cent of the total area of urban residential buildings. In addition, China's production of new-energy vehicles increased 45-fold between 2011 and 2015. The country has also built the largest air-quality monitoring network in the developing world, and lowered energy consumption per unit of GDP and the amount of CO2 released per unit of GDP.

The program plans to build on such achievements by, in addition to increasing forest cover, increasing prairie vegetation coverage by 56 percent, reclaiming more than half of reclaimable desert and preserving at least 35 percent of the natural shorelines. Other targets include cutting water consumption by 23 percent, energy consumption by 15 percent and carbon emissions per unit of GDP by 18 percent, and reaching peak CO2 emissions by 2030.

"If China succeeds in achieving these targets," said UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner, "then it will have taken a major step towards shifting to a greener economy that uses resources more efficiently, limits the risks of climate change and improves the health of its people."
http://www.seeker.com/forests-to-cover-nearly-25-of-china-by-2020-1843957373.html

Wish them gud luck
It should hit the target

 

[Zsari]

This was few years back, wonder how is the progress.

 

[Wolfwind]

Oh this is excellent. Does anyone know what kind of trees China will be planting? I think more forests in the north would be good and may help stop the desertification / soil erosion that is a problem there.