As one of the world’s largest importers of wood China has been advised that it must take full responsibility for global forestry conservation.
Speaking at a workshop organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Dr Claude Martin, director-general of WWF International, said China’s efforts in forest restoration and forest sustainable managment have got off to a good start so far.
It is forecast that China’s imports of industrial roundwood could reach 100 million m3 by 2010.
The Chinese government has placed growing importance on environment conservation since the 1998 floods, resulting in a reduction of industrial wood production. The gap between domestic wood supply and growing demand means China must turn increasingly to other countries to meet its needs.
Dr Martin said WWF would continue to support China’s forest conservation programme and hoped it would become a model for promoting the legal timber trade.
Following a three year study, WWF is due to publish a report “China Wood Trade, Market and the Environment” in December.
