China’s Natural Forest Preservation project, which launched in 1998, has been so successful that nationwide, China’s forest land has increased from 124 million hectares to 220 million hectares over 13 years. Forests now cover 23% of China’s land mass, up from 13% when the project began — the best net gain of any country in the world according to the United Nation’s 2020 Global Forest Resources Assessment. In addition, 4800 forest farms in China have switched from logging to preserving their natural resources. Forest related industries and job growth are booming. China has had 1.8 billion forest-related tourist visits; loggers and lumber mill workers have found new jobs as forest rangers, guides, and a wide array of new businesses are now tapping forest resources in environmentally-friendly ways.
China is ahead of schedule in attaining its goal of reaching the global 30/30 rule: having 30% of its country’s land in its fully natural state by 2030. We can learn a lot from China.
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