China vows to raise forest coverage rate

BEIJING: China’s forestry and grassland authority on Thursday vowed to increase the country’s forest coverage rate to 24.1 percent in the next five years.
The nation’s forest stock volume would reach 19 billion cubic meters by the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) period, an increase of 1.4 billion cubic meters from the present level, according to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.
The comprehensive vegetation coverage rate will grow by 1 percentage point to reach 57 percent, said Liu Dongsheng, an official with the administration. – Agencies