Years of rapid economic growth have taken a toll on both China’s resources and environment. In recent years, the
Chinese Government has carried out several environmental projects, such as returning farm land to forests, grasslands,
lakes and wetlands, water and topsoil conservation efforts, forest protection, pollution control, wildlife protection,
creation of nature reserves and surveys of biological resources. By the end of 2009, China had set up 2,541 nature
reserves with a total area of 148 million hectares (or 14.72percent of the n
ational territory). This land area encompasses 85percent of China’s land, 47percent of its natural wetlands, 20percent
of its natural forests, 65percent of the area inhabited by endangered wildlife. China’s total artificial forest area takes up
about one third of the world total; its average annual growth in area is 53.2percent of the global total, the fastest growth
of forest resources in the world (see Chart 7.1).