Trial forest project a budding success story

CHONGQING－In the remote mountains of Chongqing, rows of saplings planted by local villagers are part of a trial forest project with national significance.

"There are more than 47 hectares of planted and cultivated forests in the village of Xiaoshuiba, which is part of the national reserve forests project," said Hong Jiaguo, deputy director of the forestry bureau of Chengkou county. Located deep in the Daba Mountains, the county has seen more than 70 percent of its area covered by forest.

In April 2018, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration published the National Reserve Forests Construction Plan (2018-35). By 2035, China plans to build 20 million hectares of national reserve forests to achieve self-sufficiency in timber requirements.