Forest area in Inner Mongolia largest in China

The latest Seventh National Forest Resources Inventory shows that: By 2008, Inner Mongolia woodland occupies 660 million mu, accounting for 37.2 percent of the total land area; forest area of 355 million hectares, ranking first in the country.

In past decade, Inner Mongolia Forestry investment has reached 37 billion yuan, and forestry ecological area has totaled 117 million mu with an average increase of more than 10 million mu every year.

At present, Inner Mongolia has an unprecedented scale of ecological construction, and forestry industries have sustained long-term development. Progress has been made in flourishing forests through science and technology and managing forests according to law, etc. According to the 2008 inventory, forest area have increased by more than 40 million acres while trees and wood stores have increased more than 70 million cubic meters over 2003, achieving a sustained "double boom."

At the same time, Inner Mongolia has achieved the "double reduction" of desertification and desert land. The desert expansion phenomenon has been checked in key governance areas surrounding the five deserts. Desert area is relatively stable. Forest and grass coverage increased in the five sand areas and sand contracted inward. Horqin Sandilands, Maowusu Sandilands enjoy an overall reversal trend in regard to ecological conditions.

By People's Daily Online