Impact of snow on China´s forests

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Source: CCTV.com | 02-19-2008 13:28

China says about one-tenth of the country's forest resources have been affected by the worst snow damage in five decades.

The State Forestry Administration made the announcement on Tuesday during a news briefing in Beijing.(CCTV.com)

The State Forestry Administration made the announcement on Tuesday during a news briefing in Beijing.

The State Forestry Administration or SFA says the unmerciful weather this winter has damaged over 18-million hectares of forests in 19 provincial regions.

The severe snow storm has cost China's forest industry 57.3 billion yuan in economic losses.

SFA's Vice Director says the losses will increase as the disaster continues to have an effect on the country's forestry sector.

Zhu Lieke, Vice Director, State Forestry Administration, said, "The huge loss in the forestry sector is extremely rare. For Hunan province alone, the loss in forestry accounts for 40 to 60 per cent of the total loss in the disaster. Meanwhile it has caused huge economic losses to farmers whose daily lives largely rely on the forest."

Zhu Lieke says the snow disaster will affect the development of the country's forestry in the future.

He estimates the storms this winter will reduce the average farmer's income now, and for the next 3 to 5 years.

In response, the administration has earmarked over 43-million yuan in subsidies for the six worst-hit provinces.

Teams of scientists and experts have been dispatched to the snow-hit regions to help guide disaster-relief work.

The severe snow storm has cost China's forest industry 57.3 billion yuan in economic losses.(CCTV.com)

So far, crops, cattle and houses equivalent to more than 69-million yuan have been saved by forestry workers.

Zhu Lieke, Vice Director, State Forestry Administration, said, "So far, the SFA has been victorious in the first phrase of disaster-relief work in the forestry sector. We will continue to work on restoring forests and to clear woods that have been destroyed. Meanwhile, the SFA will promote the selling of forestry productions and cut relative taxes to relieve farmers after the snow storms. The rebuilding of forestry infrastructure and preventing secondary disasters such as fires and mudslides, are also on our schedule."

Zhu Lieke also says his administration will focus on the reconstruction of forest resources.

The SFA is to promote science guidance on disaster-relief to farmers to reduce economic losses as a result of the disaster.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei