Background to the Forestry Situation in Southern China

Between 1956 and 1986 overlogging of China's forest estate reduced the volume of standing timber by more than 50 per cent. This decline was the result of government policies and the failure of the Ministry of Forestry to manage the resource on an ecologically sound or sustained yield basis. This paper, which draws heavily on Chinese sources, focuses on the present situation in the southern Chinese provinces, in particular it discusses the timber supply and demand situation (including imports), timber utilization (including pulp and paper), timber marketing, environmental issues, reforestation (including the role of the Eucalyptus species) and the implementation and effectiveness of the National Forestry Law