China has become greener in recent decades. Since the 1980s trees, shrubs and grasses have been flourishing, thanks to warmer temperatures, a longer growing season and plenty of rain. But now research shows that this beneficial trend appears to be tailing off, with drought stress predominant in some areas. If the warmer, drier trend continues then China's lush green appearance may start turning to parched brown.
Reduced activities in the housing construction sector in China decreased importation of softwood logs and lumber in late 2011, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly. Despite the decline in the 4Q, total imports during 2011 reached a record high, making China the largest importer of logs and lumber in the world.
China has undertaken ambitious reforestation initiatives that have increased its forest cover dramatically in the last decade. But scientists are now raising questions about just how effective these grand projects will turn out to be.
ICTORIA - The B.C. government says lumber exports to China have gone through the roof.
It says in the first 11 months of last year, the province had shipped 4.2 billion board feet of lumber to China, exceeding a goal of four billion set four years ago.
Exports are up 200 per cent from 2009, and their value has hit more than one billion dollars.
Jobs Minister Pat Bell calls the numbers astounding, saying about two dozen sawmills across B.C. have re-opened or added shifts partly because of the boost in exports to China.
China has formulated “forest response to climate change five actions points” to implement the National Economic and Social Development Twelfth Five-Year Plan, forestry development second five year plan and Forestry Action Plan to address climate change, and further promote the “second five year ” Forest response to climate change” plan.
New regulations banning sale of illegal timber in consumer countries will force companies to move away from business-as-usual practices, part of a two-pronged approach to ensure the sustainability of supply for wood products.
More than half of the timber now shipped globally is destined for China. But unscrupulous Chinese companies are importing huge amounts of illegally harvested wood, prompting conservation groups to step up boycotts against rapacious timber interests. by william laurance - 360.yale.edu
In Chinese folklore, a dragon symbolizes strength. It is an apt icon for a nation whose rise as an economic superpower has been nothing short of meteoric.
Approved by the State Forestry Administration (SFA), China’s pilot forestry carbon sequestration transaction officially kicked off on November 1st 2011 in Yiwu City of Zhejiang Province.
Reference
Zhou, L., Dai, L., Wang, S., Huang, X., Wang, X., Qi, L., Wang, Q., Li, G., Wei, Y. and Shao, G. 2011. Changes in carbon density for three old-growth forests on Changbai Mountain, Northeast China: 1981-2010. Annals of Forest Science68: 953-958.
Coast Tsimshian Resources has signed a contract to sell 150,000 cubic metres of logs to Fujian Hijong Wood Industry Co. Ltd. of Putian, China.
Wayne Drury, Coast Tsimshian’s general manager, said of cutting and shipping the logs to fulfill the contract will provide work to support 150 families in B.C.’s northwest for almost one year.
