Nation tightens forestry management

China has tightened up management over forestry resources in the past few years by cracking down on illegal behaviors in deforestation and reclamation and improving the working mechanism of forest rangers.

Ding Xiaohua, director of forestry management under the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, said at a news conference on Friday in Beijing that the nation has about 1.7 million forest rangers who have been playing a key role in protecting forestry resources.

"The administration has recently launched a regulation on managing the group, which took effect on Oct 1," he said.

"The regulation has defined the working rights that the group ought to enjoy, such as rights of getting payment and receiving training courses."

He said that incentives will be given to forest rangers when they help avoid great loss by reporting fires and emergencies in time. Behaviors including finding and reporting pests and providing clues to crack down on those damaging forestry resources will also be rewarded.

"The implementation of the regulation can help reinforce the management of forestry resources at the grassroots level," he said.

"It also helps to unify the management of the group. Forest rangers have different backgrounds and working experience, who may face problems like unequal pay for equal work or differences in patrolling equipment. The regulation offers a standard on managing the group."

He added that enhancing the management of forest rangers is an effective way to consolidate the results of poverty alleviation work, which will help push forward the vitalization of the rural areas.

"In the past few years, about 3 million people have shaken off poverty thanks to the forest ranger job," he said.

Since March, the administration has also achieved great progress in cracking down on illegal behaviors that damage forestry resources.

According to Xu Jide, director of the administration's resources management department, the administration launched a State-level campaign on deforestation investigation on March 17.

"There are about 68,400 administrative cases nationwide with 51,100 cases closed," he said.

"About 10,300 criminal cases have been transferred to public security bureaus.

"We'll urge governments and authorities at all levels to investigate the cases and regulate the illegal behaviors. We'll continue to channel resources to crack down on these unlawful practices to protect the forestry resources and build a beautiful nation," he added.