REPORT ON PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTING CHINA'S AGENDA 21 AND RELATED INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS BY MINISTRY OF FORESTRY

Xu Youfang *

Honorable Mr. Chairman, Council Members, ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to brief you on the progress made by the Ministry of Forestry in implementing China's Agenda 21, and related international conventions, since the Fourth Meeting of China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development.

I. Enhancement of the strategic status of forestry in China's sustainable development, and promoting the implementation of a sustainable forestry development strategy.

The idea of sustainable development has been widely accepted by all nations of t he world since the UN Conference on Environment and Development in 1992. Forestry plays an important role in sustainable human development, which includes sustainable socio-economic development and maintenance of a sound environment. As a special sector generating ecological, economic and social benefits, forestry shoulders a special mission for environmental beautification and for promoting development. Sustainable forestry development is an important guarantee for sustainable socio-economic development and maintenance of a sound environment.

* Minister, Ministry of Forestry.

Forest resources are indispensable for the economic development of all sectors. Sustainable use of forest resources is the material basis which ensures sustainable socio-economic development. Meanwhile, the forestry industry is an important component of the national economy.

Forests and their related environments are important as basis for the eradication of poverty as well as the promotion of economic development. For people in mountainous or desertified areas, integrated development with forestry as a major component is an important channel to shake off poverty and become prosperous.

Forests, with their rich resources, flora and fauna, constitute a critical base for maintaining ecological balance at local, regional, national, and even global levels. Forestry development is a major component for protecting and improving ecosystems and the environment.

We in the Ministry of forestry attach great importance to sustainable forestry development. We regard the sustainable development strategy defined by China's Agenda 21 and Forestry Action Plan for China's Agenda 21 as a significant strategy for forestry development, and have worked out policies and schemes for promoting sustainable forestry development.

First of all, we have devised the Ninth Five-Year Forestry Plan and Long Term Objectives to the Year 2010 based on the master strategy for sustainable forestry development defined by the forestry Action Plan for China's Agenda 21. The development strategy, objectives and priority areas will be incorporated into the Ninth Five-Year Forestry Plan and Long-term Objectives to the Year 2010 with concrete priority projects for future forestry development defined.

Secondly, 'The Guiding Principles for the Restructuring of the Forestry Economic System' was promulgated and implemented nationwide. It will promote the shift in the forestry economic system and the mode of economic growth, and put emphasis on the implementation of the strategy of differentiated forestry management, as well as the revitalization of forestry through science and education. Differentiated forestry management refers to dividing forestry into two categories: forestry for public benefit, and forestry for commodity purposes in light of the law of socialist market economy and the requirements of forestry development. The different categories will each be managed following different management regimes, and will have different performance mechanisms, management guiding ideologies, economic policies, means of management and forms of organization to ensure their development.

Forestry for public benefit is aimed at protecting and improving the environment and providing a guarantee for environmental sustainability. Forestry for

commodity purposes, through intensive management methods, will create more economic benefit, satisfy the economic demand for forestry products, and achieve sustainable development of the national economy.

II. Actions and Achievements in Key Areas for Sustainable Forestry Development

In line with the key areas defined in the Forestry Action Plan for China's Agenda 21, the following actions have been taken:

1. Quickening the afforestation pace to build up forest resources.

Forest resources are the basis of forestry work. In this regard, we need to continuously mobilize public involvement and participation in forestry development to increase the area of forest resources. Since last year, about 521 million per son/times have participated in the compulsory tree planting drive, with 2.5 billion trees planted, and a survival rate of 85.2 %.

Three more provinces (Jilin, Jiangsu and Hainan) have had their plantable barren hills re-forested, making a total of 12 provinces that have participated in the afforestation program. As a result of great efforts for large scale afforestation, about 5.215 million hectares have been planted with trees in addition to the separate establishment of commercial timber forests, economic forests, bamboo forests and fuelwood forest bases.

2. Strengthening the development of key forestry ecological programs to improve

the environment of the country.

At the top of our agenda has been the development and strengthening of key forestry ecological programs, and new progress has been made. Under the "Three-north" Shelterbelt Development Program, plantations totaling over 1.33 million hectares were established in 1995, bringing a total of 11 million hectares of farmland under protection. 535,000 hectares of plantations were also established in 195 under the Program on Soil and Water Conservation Forests along the Upper and Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River with an accumulated plantation area of 5.8 million hectares. Additionally, by the end of 1995, a 18, 000 kilometer long coastal shelterbelt had been linked up under the Coastal Shelterbelt Program.

Under the Plain Afforestation Program, another 45 counties met the plain afforestation standards, bringing the total to 769 counties that have qualified, or 80% of the total 918 plain and semi-plain counties in the whole country. As far as the Taihang Mountain Afforestation Program is concerned, 427,000 hectares of plantation were established in 1995. Under the National Program to Combat Desertification, by the year 1995 some 1.186 million hectares of desertified land were brought under control through integrated measures. This represents an increase of 2.6% over last year.

3. Strengthening the conservation and management of wildlife resources.

Firstly, great efforts have been made to promote the development and management of nature reserves. Some 574 nature reserves for forest and wildlife species had been established throughout the country by the year 1995.

Secondly, criminal activities such as illegal poaching and trade in wild animals have been the focus of police attention.

Thirdly, the identification, conservation and rescue of wildlife species have be en intensified.

Fourthly, management of the import and export of endangered species has been further strengthened.

4. Integrated development and poverty eradication in mountainous areas.

Poverty is the key constraint to the achievement of sustainable development in developing countries. Without poverty eradication, we cannot talk about the achievement of sustainable development. There are 65 million poverty stricken persons in China at present, broken down into 18 poverty stricken areas, mainly distributed in mountainous areas. Among the 592 poverty stricken counties supported by t he China's 87 Poverty Alleviation Plan, 496 are located in mountainous and semi-mountainous areas, which account for 84 % of the total. Therefore, we can say that the issue of poverty in China is concentrated in the poverty stricken mountainous areas.

The arable land per capita in mountainous areas in only 1.13 mu, while the forested land areas it is nearly 6 mu. Mountainous areas not only accounts for 90% of the total forest area in China and 80 % forest stocking volume, but are also the main production areas for oil, grain, fruits, tea, bamboo products, local special products, medicinal herbs and forest by-products. Therefore, integrated development of mountainous resources, with forestry as a major component, is an effective approach to enhance the sustainable economic development in mountainous are as and to thereby eradicate poverty.

In order to carry out integrated mountainous development, with forestry as a focus to eradicate poverty, and to implement sustainable development strategy in a broader scale, integrated development of mountainous areas has been carried out in 24 counties in China. Experimental zones within the mountainous areas of these counties, where "soil improvement, flood control, tree planting, road repairing and electric supply" are the basic concerns, enhance overall economic development through comprehensive planning and integrated measures. The essential Points for Integrated Mountainous Forestry Development ("Points") were compiled, According to the "Points", the forestry output value is planned to reach RMB 26 million Yuan by the year 2000 through integrated mountainous forestry development. Net income per capital in mountainous areas will increase by RMB 300 Yuan. A 15 million surplus labor force will be transferred. The output of dry fruit can reach 2.3 million tons, while fresh fruit production can reach 37 million tons.

III. Conscientiously Implementing the International Conventions

1. After the implementation of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat, the following activities have been carried out:

a. Participating in the Conference of the Parties to the Ramsar Convention. A de legation attended the Sixth Conference of the Parties to the Ramsar Convention held in Brisbane, Australia, 18-27 March 196. The plan for the establishment of a n Asia-Australia Nature Reserve Network for Wading Birds was confirmed at the conference. The nature reserves of the Yellow River Delta, the Shuangtaizi River mouth and Chongming Island in China, which are the three important stopovers in the migration route for migratory birds, have been included in the Network.

b. Compiling China's Wetland Protection Action Plan. In November 1995, the Minis try of Forestry convened meetings in Beijing to write China's Wetland Protection Action Plan. The Plan compiling group was set up, and ways of organization and the duties for each ministry concerned were defined. At present, all the ministries have finished their assignments for the compilation of the Plan, and are making preparations prior to the consolidation of the Plan.

c. Actively conducting the national inventory of wetland resources. Experts from relevant sectors and professions have been organized to compile the Outlines of National Inventory of Wetland Resources. Training courses on the national inventory of wetland resources have have been held.

d. Strengthening the development and management of wetland nature reserves. Over 166 wetland nature reserves have been established in China, among which 79 belong to the forestry sector.

e. Increasing exchanges and cooperation with foreign countries and international agencies. In October 1995, the Ministry of Forestry together with the Wetland International in Asia and Pacific signed, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperative Protection of Wetlands. Wetland International has already set u its office in Beijing. Many wetland protection projects have been included in the various Memorandum of Understanding signed each year between the Ministry of Forestry and World Wildlife Fund for Nature. The Ministry of Forestry has also carried out a wide range of cooperation with international organizations such as UNDP, World Bank, IUCN and ICF, in the fields of protection of wetland resources and development of wetland nature reserves. To strengthen the protection of nature reserves, the Ministry of Forestry on behalf of the Chinese Government and the Russian Government signed, in April 1996, the Agreement between the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation on Xingkaihu Nature Reserve. In addition, in 1995 the Ministry of Forestry attended the annual meetings under the Sino-Japanese and Sino-Australian agreements on migratory bird protection. The Ministry is also making preparation prior to signing the Sino-Korean Agreement on Migratory Bird Protection with the Republic of Korea, as well as strengthening bilateral and regional cooperation to protect the common migratory bird resources.

2. The following undertakings are being fulfilled in the implementation of the U N Convention to Combat Desertification:

a. Establishment of the National Committee to Implement the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. With the approval of the State Council, and under the auspices of the Ministry of Forestry, China has set up the National Committee to Implement the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. The secretariat of the committee is in the Ministry of Forestry. Sixteen senion experts from relevant sectors and professions have been invited to form a senior advisory group to raise the scientific level of decision making.

b. Formulation of China's National Action Program to implement the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. The Program compiling group has been set up. The Pro gram (draft) has been discussed by senior experts and advisors and reviewed at the meetings attended by liaison officers form relevant ministries and commissions. At the Sixth Session of Inter-governmental Negotiating Committee of the Convention in 1995, the representative of the Chinese Government made public China's Action Program to Implement the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.

c. Carrying out an inventory on China's desertified land and making maps showing desertified land. In order to better implement China's National Program to Combat Desertification, and to be in line with the international practice in combating desertification, the General Office of China National Coordinating Group to Combat Desertification (Ministry of Forestry) organized a multidisciplinary task force to carry out the national inventory on desertified land, to monitor desertification, and to produce desertification maps. Implementation plans for combating desertification during the Ninth Five-Year Plan period have been formulated, and experiences drawn from the National Program to Combat Desertification to constantly enhance project management.

d. Strengthening capacity building, publicity and education in combating desertification. The China National Research and Development Center, the Chinese Training Center on Combating Desertification and the China National Desertification Monitoring Center have been established, which has strengthened scientific research into combating desertification over the whole country. Reversing desertification and demonstrating its effect have been included in China's national program to address key scientific and technological problems. Nationwide anti-desertification publicity and education activities, and three Ramsa Convention public awareness education training courses, have been held during 1995 and 1996.

e. In cooperation with CCD Secretariat, OSCAL, and the Japanese government, the Ministry of Forestry organized the Asia-Africa Forum on Combating Desertification which was held 5-11 August 1996. With the attendance of 26 Asian and African country representatives, 52 diplomats accredited to China, six international organizations, and 200 people from relevant domestic agencies, the Forum has laid a foundation for Asian-African cooperation in this field.

f. Furthermore, in fulfilling the obligations of CITES, the Chinese government has strengthened management agencies for the conservation of wild fauna and flora, and strengthened legislation and law enforcement, according to requirements of the Convention. This has brought about effective conservation of China's endangered wild fauna and flora species.

IV. Major Existing Problems and Counter-Measures

In recent years, China has done much in implementing the strategy for sustainable forestry development. Yet the development of forestry still cannot meet the demands of sustainable development, as illustrated in the following:

1. Insufficient forest resources, poor quality products, and a low level of forest management techniques. China's forest stock volume ranks fifth in the world, yet the per capita share is only 1/8 of the world's average. The per hectare stock volume is only 33.3 cubic meters in plantation stands, and only 75.14 cubic meters in mature and over-mature plantations. The utilization rate of land for forestry use is merely 51 %. The annual net increment is only 2.7 cubic meters per hectare.

2. Slow development of the forestry industry and low timber recovery in comprehensive utilization. The traditional production pattern of China's forestry industry being dominated by log production remains almost unchanged. Of all the timber products provided for society, the ratio between wood-based panels and timber is about 1:75, compared to 1:10 in countries with advanced forestry industries. With a timber recovery rate of only 50%, the contribution of forestry to national economic development is still rather small.

3. With low inputs into forestry, the trend of environmental degradation not essentially reversed. Restricted by China's level of economic development, the present input into forestry is only 0.14 % of GNP. China's environment is still deteriorating: the land area suffering form soil and water erosion has reached 3.67 million square kilometers; the area of desertified land is still expanding by 2100 square kilometers each year, and the number of biological species is decreasing.

To realize sustainable forestry development, the following efforts should be mad e:

1. Speed up cultivation of forest resources, lay special emphasis on the enhancement of forestry technical level and management level, increase the total stock of forest resources and improve its quality.

2. Optimize industrial structure and product composition with the support of advancements in science and technology to facilitate the development of forestry industry, increase the contribution of forestry economy to the national economy, realize the shift of forestry development from extensive management to intensive management.

3. Increase inputs into forestry, speed up the pace of forestry ecological development, protect and improve the environment.

Over the years, the diversified international cooperation in forestry has accelerated the pace of China's forest resources cultivation, and promoted China's forestry development. We will work harder to promote China's sustainable forestry development. We also hope that all countries and international organizations will continue to support us as always, to enable the sustainable development of China' s forestry.

Thank you.