Chinas new forest law was officially implemented on July 1, understand the main changes

The "Forest Law" is the fundamental law for forestry development. Since its implementation in 1985, it has been revised in 1998 and bundled in 2009. It has played an important role in the protection and rational use of forest resources, speeding up land greening and ecological construction, and safeguarding and promoting forestry development. Played a very important role. On December 28, 2019, the newly revised "Forest Law of the People's Republic of China" was voted and passed at the 15th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress. President Xi Jinping signed Presidential Decree No. 39 on the same day to promulgate it.

On the whole, the newly revised Forest Law upholds the principles of respecting nature, conforming to nature, giving priority to ecology, giving priority to protection, and promoting the sustainable development of forest resources, to protect, cultivate and rationally use forest resources, speed up the greening of the country, and protect forest ecology. Safety, the construction of ecological civilization, and the realization of harmonious coexistence between man and nature are the fundamental goals, and detailed regulations have been made in terms of forest ownership, development planning, forest protection, afforestation, operation and management, supervision and inspection, and legal responsibilities.

Specifically, the revised "Forest Law" has expanded from seven chapters to nine chapters, and the number of articles has increased from 49 to 84, which mainly strengthens the following 6 aspects:

1. Strengthened the protection of ownership, a new chapter "Forest Ownership" was added to clarify the property rights, which is conducive to mobilizing the enthusiasm of forestry operators to protect and develop forest resources;

2. Emphasizing forest classification management, highlighting the leading functions of public welfare forests and commercial forests, which is conducive to the sustainable use of resources and the full use of the forest's multiple functions;

3. The planning guidance is highlighted, and the protection of forest resources is incorporated into the national economic and social development plan. The forest coverage rate and forest stock volume have become important binding indicators for the evaluation of the government;

4. Strengthening the protection of resources, the newly revised "Forest Law" has more comprehensive protection targets, more stringent protection measures, and improved the system and integrity of forest resource protection;

5. Deepen the reform of "decentralization, management and service", delegate logging quota approval power, delete timber production plan, timber allocation, etc., to protect the legitimate rights and interests of business entities;

6. Highlight the authority of law enforcement, strengthen the supervision and inspection methods of forest resources protection, increase the punishment of cases of destroying forest resources, further improve the effectiveness of law enforcement, and deter illegal acts.

  In the next step, the National Forestry and Grass Administration will increase publicity and training, increase the awareness of the whole society to participate in forest protection, afforestation and greening, and enhance the ability and level of law-based administration of the forestry and grass industry. Pay close attention to improving the coordination of supporting regulations and related systems to increase the operability of the law. Strengthen administrative law enforcement, increase the deterrence of the law, and ensure that the forest law takes root.