africa.chinadaily.com.cn
China's 2024 Land Greening Success: Exceeding 25% Forest Coverage
China's 2024 land greening efforts involved afforesting 4.446 million hectares, improving 3.224 million hectares with grass planting, and reclaiming 2.783 million hectares of desertified land, exceeding 25 percent forest coverage and 20 billion cubic meters of forest stock volume, positioning China as the largest contributor to global greening.
- How did the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program contribute to these achievements, and what was its funding?
- These achievements build upon a larger effort since 2012, encompassing 77.3 million hectares of afforestation. This makes China the world's largest contributor to land greening, exceeding $4.4 billion in central government funding for initiatives like the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program.
- What are the long-term economic and environmental implications of China's expansive land greening initiatives?
- China's focus on ecological protection and restoration, encompassing mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes, grasslands, and deserts, has yielded a 10.17 trillion yuan forestry and grassland industry output value, up 9.6 percent year-on-year, and a thriving ecotourism sector attracting 2.76 billion visitors in 2024.
- What were the key achievements in China's land greening efforts in 2024, and what is their global significance?
- In 2024, China completed afforestation of 4.446 million hectares, improved 3.224 million hectares of land by planting grass, and reclaimed 2.783 million hectares of desertified and sandy land. Forest coverage surpassed 25 percent, and forest stock volume exceeded 20 billion cubic meters.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The headline and opening sentence immediately highlight China's success in land greening, setting a positive tone. The article consistently emphasizes positive statistics and achievements, using language that celebrates the progress made. The inclusion of specific figures like the amount of funding and hectares of land restored further reinforces the success narrative. This framing might overshadow potential criticisms or complexities.
Language Bias
The language used is largely positive and celebratory, such as "significant achievements," "continuous efforts," and "making China the fastest and largest contributor." These terms are not inherently biased but contribute to an overwhelmingly positive tone that lacks nuance. More neutral phrasing could improve objectivity. For instance, instead of "making China the fastest and largest contributor," one could write, "China has made substantial contributions."
Bias by Omission
The article focuses heavily on the positive aspects of China's land greening efforts, providing statistics and quotes from officials. However, it omits potential negative consequences or challenges associated with these projects, such as displacement of communities, impacts on biodiversity, or the long-term sustainability of the methods employed. A more balanced report would include these counterpoints.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a largely positive picture of China's land greening initiatives without acknowledging potential drawbacks or alternative approaches. It doesn't explore the complexities or trade-offs involved in such large-scale environmental projects.
Sustainable Development Goals
China's significant afforestation efforts, including the expansion of forest areas, improvement of land quality, and reclamation of desertified land, directly contribute to the restoration and sustainable management of terrestrial ecosystems. The initiatives, such as the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program and the systemic treatment of mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes, grasslands and deserts, show a commitment to combating desertification and land degradation, protecting biodiversity, and enhancing ecosystem resilience. The economic benefits derived from the forestry and grassland industry further incentivize sustainable land management practices.