CRI听力： China Reduces Forestry Resources Loss

The snowstorm that has plagued southern China since January has damaged large swathes of forestry resources. It has also endangered the livelihoods of people in the region, particularly forest farmers.

The Chinese government claims that it is dedicated to minimizing losses in the forestry sector, and is trying to reduce damage in the worst-hit regions.

CRI Reporter Chen Xi has the details.

China's State Forestry Administration, or SFA, says that a series of preferential policies pending government approval will help forest farmers ensure their livelihoods, which have undergone uNPRecedented destruction in the past 50 years.

Zhu Lieke, deputy director of the SFA, says the central government considers restoring the lives of forest farmers in southern China a priority.

"We will try our best to maintain the normal lifestyle of forest farmers, ensure productivity and ecological protection and guarantee the supply of bamboo and seedlings in southern China."

He says he believes the reconstruction plan submitted to the State Council will substantially ease pressures on the region.

Zhu Lieke also says the government expects to realize its initial target of boosting forest coverage in the country to 20 percent by 2010 through the adjustment of construction and investment plans.

Statistics from China's top forestry authority confirm that nearly 90 percent of the forests in 19 provinces in southern China have been ruined.

The SFA is urging its local branches to organize and monitor a timely clean-up of fallen trees to facilitate the full recovery of the transport system. Places unaffected by the disaster have been ordered to expand seedling supplies to ensure that spring forestation begins as usual in early April.

The administration warns that trees killed in the current winter frost in southern China could lead to wildfire outbreaks when the weather gets warmer.

A spring fire prevention campaign is scheduled to start soon, and local authorities are requested to chart out sufficient measures.

Furthermore, Zhu Lieke admits the administration lacks experience in dealing with such a rare disaster, and says more efforts will be made to resolve the situation.

"The rare snowstorm has exposed our shortcomings. Therefore, we will analyze the actual losses and problems, particularly in terms of infrastructure construction and on-site command."

This year, China plans to increase its forested area by 5.2 million hectares through tree-planting efforts.