40 years of greening improves forest coverage, awareness of protection

Chinese people have participated in voluntary tree-planting activities 17.5 billion times in the past 40 years, with the world's largest greening campaign having resulted in the planting of 78.1 billion trees, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration said on Monday.

The country's forest coverage has increased from 12 percent in the 1980s to over 23 percent, it said, adding that the green coverage rate in urban areas has risen from 10.1 percent to 41.1 percent.

China's total forest stock volume has grown from 9.02 billion cubic meters to 17.6 billion cubic meters in the past four decades.

Greening has not only improved the country's environment but also benefited its people, with the administration saying the country's per capita green area has climbed from 3.45 square meters in the 1980s to 14.8 sq m.

Monday marked the 40th anniversary of the launch of China's voluntary tree-planting campaign during the fourth session of the Fifth National People's Congress.

The National Afforestation Commission said on Monday the greening efforts will be maintained and help build China into a beautiful country.

In the past 40 years, China has developed multiple greening methods, including cloud planting, an online activity popular with young people, it said.

Cloud planting allows people to adopt a tree through an internet platform. They receive a commemorative adoption certificate and can visit the tree on set dates.

Other innovative methods such as Ant Forest, which was launched by Ant Group, an affiliate of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, also promote greener lifestyles by inspiring users to reduce carbon emissions in their daily lives and better protect the environment.

The online program encourages users to lower their carbon footprint through daily actions, such as taking public transport or paying utility bills online. They receive "green energy" points for each action, and a tree is planted when they accumulate enough points.

In 2019, the program won the United Nations' highest environmental honor, the Champions of the Earth award, in the inspiration and action category.

The commission said the voluntary tree-planting campaign has led to a significant improvement in people's awareness of the need to protect nature and the concept of ecological civilization, which emphasizes sustainable development.

"We will maintain our efforts and further standardize policies related to the voluntary tree-planting campaign, encourage more innovative ways and gather wisdom from the public," it said.

The commission said 441 cities have committed to building national forest cities through multiple greening methods.

In the next five years, China will make crucial adjustments to its greening plan. The State Council, the country's Cabinet, said in a guideline issued in June that more local plant species will be used for greening.

Arid areas will be encouraged to make afforestation plans with low water use to prevent waste. Local governments will also be urged to strengthen the management of greening projects and make resolute efforts to protect wild plants, endangered wild species and wildlife habitats.

"We will aim to conduct greening more scientifically," Liu Dongsheng, the administration's deputy director, said.