From selling wood to engaging in tourism, Northeast China's forest areas achieve green economic transformation
2024-03-22
The forest area is 21.62 million hectares, the forest coverage rate is 44.47%, and the forest volume is 2.158 billion cubic meters... Behind the series of numbers is the ecological achievements of the key state-owned forest areas in Heilongjiang Province after ten years of logging cessation. The logging cessation measures have revitalized the northernmost forest barrier in China, allowing state-owned forest areas to achieve green economic transformation through ecological revitalization. In the mid-20th century, in order to meet the needs of economic construction, China carried out large-scale development of this primitive forest, and by 2014, logging was completely stopped. The cumulative production of wood in key state-owned forest areas in Heilongjiang Province exceeded 600 million cubic meters, accounting for about half of the country. Yang Chongjun, Deputy Minister of Resource Management Department of Longjiang Forest Industry Group, has been working in the forest area for decades. He said that before the cessation of logging in forest areas, there were already problems such as a decrease in stock volume and weakened ecological functions, especially in the 1990s when some forest areas were in a "two crisis" situation of "resource crisis and economic crisis". On April 1, 2014, key state-owned forest areas in Heilongjiang Province completely stopped commercial logging of natural forests, and state-owned forest areas mainly relying on forest resources are facing a major transformation test. At that time, tens of thousands of forestry workers in the Xing'an Mountains and Xiaoxing'an Mountains put down their axes and saws. Some people changed from loggers to forest rangers, while others faced the dilemma of losing their jobs. Liu Yangshun, a retired forestry worker in Yichun City, is one of them. "Before the cessation of logging, I used to be a lumberjack, and one person could chop dozens of trees every day," Liu Yangshun told reporters. After the cessation of logging, forest workers were once lost. Relying on the ecological advantages of the forest area, Liu Yangshun and his family started a rural tourism business in 2016, and their income has been increasing year by year. "From the initial 10 dining tables, it has now increased to 18 tables, receiving more than 10000 tourists annually and increasing income by more than 100000 yuan." In recent years, Yichun City, where Liu Yangshun is located, has adhered to the development positioning of "ecological city, tourism strong city" and has taken the lead in creating a Chinese ecological health tourism destination in Heilongjiang Province. Nowadays, the forest coverage rate in Yichun has reached 83.8%, and the forest volume has increased to 375 million cubic meters, with an average annual net increase of over 10 million cubic meters. The results of comprehensive logging cessation in the forest area continue to expand. In 2023, Yichun's reception of tourists and tourism revenue both reached historic highs. During the Mid Autumn Festival and National Day holidays, they increased by 506% and 534% year-on-year, respectively, showing a "surge" trend. Wang Wei, Director of the Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau of Yichun City, said that it is precisely by relying on ecological advantages and vigorously developing the summer forest ecological health tourism industry that the local area has achieved a win-win situation in terms of ecology, economy, and social benefits. At Chaihe Forestry Bureau Co., Ltd. of Longjiang Forest Industry Group, the local tourism industry is vigorously developed based on the stunning winter snow scenery. Li Gang, Secretary of the Party Branch of Beiguo Elementary School Jiuzhai Scenic Area Management Co., Ltd. of Chaihe Forestry Bureau Co., Ltd., said that the forest farm, which used to be mainly focused on logging, is relying on the ice and snow to revitalize. A few rooms and a large round table form the basic prototype of a homestay. After the cessation of logging in 2014, apart from forest protection and other work, Pan Dede, an employee of the satellite forest farm of Chaihe Forestry Bureau Co., Ltd., shifted almost all of his energy to homestays. "Our handwritten menus are all farmhouse dishes, and there are a lot of people coming. In a winter, we can earn tens of thousands of yuan, which is more profitable than pulling wood," said Pan Dede. Not only for tourism, but also with the help of abundant forests
Edit：He Chuanning Responsible editor：Su Suiyue
Source：Xinhua
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