China’s Heilongjiang province felled about one million fewer trees in 2004, compared to the previous 12 months, in a bid to preserve forests.
The province, which has major forest reserves, saw timber output decline by 320,000m3 from a year earlier. Timber sales also dropped by 256,000m3.
Saving the trees is part of a 10-year nationwide programme launched in 2000 to protect forests.
Heilongjiang Forest Industry Bureau said saving trees helps the ecology, as trees may never be replaced or will take decades to grow back to a big size again.
The province’s timber output in 2004 is estimated at about 4 million m3. But despite the reduction, income has remained at the same level as 2003 due to the introduction of a new bidding system which means the highest price is paid to secure timber.
