A nationwide probe into illegal requisition of woodlands for
development projects, a problem that will continue to nibble away
at China's precious forests if not controlled, was launched on
Tuesday.
The investigation, the seventh of its kind, will be a
comprehensive look at all projects using woodlands, a forest
official said. Spot checks have been carried out since 1998.
Xiao Xingwei, director of the Department of Forest Resources,
State Forestry Administration (SFA), said that priority is being
given to woodlands taken over by development zones and golf courses
illegally set up by local authorities.
Authorities will also look into unapproved uses of woodlands and
illegal transfers for non-forestry uses.
Under China's Forestry Law, projects that occupy woodlands must
be approved by forestry authorities. Fees are charged for
vegetation rehabilitation in an area equivalent to the one
destroyed.
Any project that uses more than 10 hectares must be approved by
the SFA, while smaller projects have to be checked by provincial
forestry departments.
Those who destroy farmland or forested area could face up to
five years in jail if convicted.
However, some profit-hungry local governments have become
involved in various illegal woodlands projects. There have been
cases of embezzlement of compensation charged for forest
rehabilitation and logging certificates have been issued for
unapproved projects, Xiao said.
In north China's Shanxi
Province, for instance, a freeway project between Yuncheng and
Sanmenxia took more than 161 hectares of woodlands owned by local
farmers without any approval.
Also in Shanxi, a local mining company and the Jiexiu municipal
government took over more than 34 hectares of forest, mostly owned
by the state, for a tourism development project. They too lacked
official approval, said Wang Zhuxiong, also with the Department of
Forest Resources.
Although the SFA has urged Shanxi Province to investigate the
two cases since 2002, no reports have been submitted.
Wang said there might be some regional protectionism behind both
cases.
"Regional protectionism is the major obstacle to China's
protection of woodland resources," Xiao said.
China's forest coverage rate today is less than 17 percent, or
only 61 percent of the world average, owing to chronic land
reclamation for farming, according to the SFA.
Illegal projects by local governments have increased in number
as the country's economy grows.
"Forest resources are suffering serious damage while some local
authorities either illegally take over woodlands for their own
projects or support such activities," Xiao said.
China's wooded area is only 4.6 percent of the world average,
and the per capita figure is less than 13 percent of the global
average.
(China Daily April 7, 2004)