Fostering sustainable forest management in Hunan Province

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.

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.

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.