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Sustainable forest management, Hunan province, China
This project contributes to economic development in rural areas and to combating climate change by rehabilitating forest areas and planting new forest areas in Hunan Province.
Context

Reforestation plays an important role in the fight against climate change. In 2012, China had 195 million hectares of forests, which represented approximately 20% of the surface area of its territory. Over a thirty-year period, considerable efforts had been made to replant artificial forests but the per capita forest area in China was still less than a quarter of the world average level.

Hunan, a forest province, was seeking to pursue its development while avoiding the traditional industrialization route followed by coastal regions. The province authorities consequently considered the economy created by forestry activities, particularly for bamboo, as one of the most promising ways forward.

Description

As follow-up to an initial AFD rehabilitation and reforestation project in Yunnan Province, AFD supported the government of Hunan in implementing a sustainable forest management project. The project accomplished the following actions:

  • rehabilitation of 100,100 hectares of bamboo and plantation of 60,600 hectares of woody species;

  • construction of forest roads, creation of a fire prevention network;

  • capacity building for stakeholders (local communities, forestry cooperatives, State-owned companies, administration) with training sessions on good management practices;

  • international certification of sustainable forest management and valuing of forest carbon credits.

Impacts

This project, which combines economic development in rural areas with efforts to combat climate change, should reduce CO2 emissions by an estimated 2.58 million tons over a 20-year period. It is also helping to improve soil and water conservation and create local jobs.

19/12/2012
Project start date
31/10/2018
Project end date
Hunan
Location
Financing tool
30 600 000
EUR
Financing amount
Achevé
Status
Hunan local authorities
Beneficiaries