Beijing has set 2035 as the deadline for modernising forestry, increasing timber production and improving ecological security
A campaign to draw Chinese attention to promoting the development of the country's forestry sector was organised several years ago. For example, on 2 April 2021 Chinese President Xi Jinping took part in a tree-planting event in Beijing's Chaoyang district alongside officials, residents and schoolchildren. Xi Jinping is a firm supporter of timber growing and state forestry. China has now announced the adoption of new guidelines for modernising state forestry enterprises. The enterprises are being positioned as a mainstay of China's forest conservation and sustainable use of timber. The plan, drawn up by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and other government agencies, stipulates that a fully modernised and comprehensive forestry system will be in place by 2035.
Chinese officials stress that such reforms will strengthen the ecological functions of forestry enterprises, increase timber production, improve living conditions for rural residents and link them more closely to the country's newly invigorated "green economy". The NDRC states that by 2030 forestry must have available and usable "high-quality natural resources, stable ecological functions and a well-developed green economy". Within five years, forestry enterprises should become "a significant force in safeguarding the country's ecological security, developing state forestry and grassland management, and supplying high-quality ecological products". An NDRC representative underlined the urgency of these measures: "We will strengthen policy support, modernise key infrastructure and coordinate measures in order to accelerate the creation of a modern state forestry system." Such a system was, for instance, already established in 2023 at the Dongmen forestry enterprise, which has been operating for more than 50 years and has been a centre for research into the properties of eucalyptus timber in China for more than 35 years.
What are China's state forestry enterprises?
State forestry enterprises are state-run land management units set up several decades ago. In the past they concentrated on timber production, forest regeneration and land reclamation. In recent years their role has changed. They now deal with environmental protection, biodiversity conservation and sustainable resource management. Such enterprises exist throughout the country, often in ecologically sensitive regions, and serve both as production bases and as managers of protected areas, providing a balance between economic activity and environmental management.
To underline the importance of forestry development in the country, in 2023 the Chinese president visited the state forestry enterprise at Mohe (a city in northern China in the Greater Khingan mountain range region). Such forestry enterprises are a key element in President Xi's policy of creating a "green wall" across China.
The new plan aims to modernise infrastructure, improve ecological monitoring and integrate forestry into China's efforts to achieve carbon neutrality and rural development. Chinese media reported that the reforms also aim to create jobs and improve living standards in forested areas. Experts point out that the initiative reflects the Chinese government's serious efforts to build what it calls an "ecological civilisation" – a concept that is central to Chinese President Xi Jinping's environmental doctrine.
China's environmental doctrine and the path towards an "ecological civilisation"
In July 2023, at China's National Conference on Ecological and Environmental Protection, Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated his intention to accelerate modernisation based on harmonious coexistence between people and nature – an ambitious and far-sighted goal. This pledge is more than political rhetoric, as it reflects a revolutionary concept grounded in the doctrine of ecological civilisation.
Thanks to record progress in reducing pollution, restoring nature and using clean energy, China is becoming a world leader in green development. The path to full ecological modernisation nevertheless remains challenging, as broader international cooperation is needed in key areas. Over the past decade China has undergone historic environmental change. According to figures from the country's Ministry of Ecology and Environment, in the 339 largest cities the number of days with good air quality has risen from 63.3% to 87.5%, while the density of PM2.5, the main cause of severe respiratory illnesses, has fallen by an average of more than 50%.
China's transition to a green economy is also driven by its leading position in renewable energy. According to the International Energy Agency, in 2023 China accounted for almost half of global investment in renewable energy. The country's total renewable energy capacity exceeds 1.45 billion kilowatts.
The main driving force behind these changes is the systematic integration of environmental protection into governance. Key policy guidelines set out specific emission reduction pathways for each sector. The ecological protection "red lines", formally integrated into national policy with the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020), focus on conserving biodiversity, maintaining ecosystem services and ensuring ecological security; they now cover more than 25% of China's territory, protecting key ecosystems from unlawful exploitation.
Ecology – one of the "pillars of China's foreign policy"
China has officially published the first draft of a national Environmental Code, a significant step in consolidating ecological governance, which was made public on 27 April 2025 at a session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China. It consists of 1,188 articles in five sections – general provisions, pollution prevention and control, ecological protection, green and low-carbon development, and legal liability and supplementary provisions.
It should be stressed that environmental policy experts both in China and abroad welcome this step, which brings together fragmented environmental regulations, improves clarity in their enforcement and fills legislative gaps, strengthening China's commitment to promoting sustainable development and ecological civilisation.
Despite domestic difficulties, China is also seeking to spread its Green Doctrine abroad. In its bid to become a leader in international environmental governance, China has made the idea of "ecological civilisation" a pillar of its foreign policy.
Through the Green Silk Road, the environmental arm of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China is helping developing countries to introduce greener infrastructure models, transferring technological expertise and building environmental management capacity. One example is the China-Laos railway, which was designed to have as little impact on the ecosystem as possible. More than 60% of the route was built on bridges or through tunnels so as not to disturb wildlife and the landscape. China is a very active promoter of its policy in Africa and South Asia, where projects worth billions of dollars are being carried out.