China's forest chief responsibility system yields positive results

Another 169 hectares of damaged vegetation have been restored, and 176 hectares of occupied forest and grassland have been reclaimed since China's National Forestry and Grassland Administration announced the second batch of typical deforestation and grassland destruction cases in May, the administration said on Tuesday.

In recent years, the administration has implemented the forest chief responsibility system to bolster the protection of forests and grasslands, making strides in combating illegal deforestation and grassland destruction.

The administration announced on Tuesday the third batch of typical deforestation and grassland destruction instances, with six cases of illegal occupation of forest and grassland, and declaring to supervise the rectification of the cases.

One of the cases involves Mankuang Panxin Mining Co, which unlawfully occupied a total of 21 hectares of national public forests and natural forests in a village in Huidong county, Southwest China's Sichuan province for quarrying and mining since 2009, resulting in significant harm to forest resources and the ecological environment.

"We will persist in reinforcing the forest chief responsibility system and intensifying efforts to combat illegal and criminal activities that harm forest and grass resources," said Liu Keyong, director of the resources department at the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.

The forest chief responsibility system assigns specific responsibilities for designated areas, ensuring that local authorities are answerable for the safeguarding and development of forest and grassland resources. This system has been pivotal in advancing the restoration of forests and grasslands and enhancing ecological conservation, Liu said.

"Since last year, we have initiated investigations into 1,505 forest-related illegal cases in Fujian and Jiangxi provinces, leading to the recovery of 519 hectares of forest," said Meng Guangqin, commissioner of the administration's office in Fuzhou, Fujian.

By June 2022, the forest chief system had been fully implemented nationwide, resulting in a decrease in forestry and grassland administrative cases and a boost in ecological environment restoration, according to the National Forest and Grassland Administration.

Shi Yudie contributed to this story.