The government would buy dedicated fire-fighting helicopters for the first time to deal with the increased threat, State Forestry Administration spokesperson Cao Qingyao, revealed.
“International weather experts predict that, because of the double effect of global warming and El Nino, 2007 will be the warmest year ever, and the forest fire prevention situation will be extremely serious,” he said.
Another problem facing China’s forests is the spread of disease and pests such as the American white moth and the pinewood nematode. Infestation rates rose almost a quarter last year to affect 10.7 million ha of wood.
