China is looking to the outside world to meet its growing demand for timber and wood products.
Top forestry official Lei Jiafu said the country’s annual demand for timber and wood products stands at more than 300 million m3, but its existing forests can only supply 60% of that demand.
It is forecast that China will consume 18.5 billion m3 of forest resources in the next 50 years – 1.6 times the total amount of its existing forest resources.
