Money grown on trees

Editor's note: This year marks the 20th anniversary of President Xi Jinping's proposal of the concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets". To mark the occasion, China Daily is publishing a series of stories on how resources such as mountains, rivers, lakes, forests and farms are being transformed into priceless gifts.

China's decades-long dedicated forestry management program has transformed the nation's trees from being primarily a source of timber to a multifaceted resource that can improve soil, stop the encroachment of deserts, earn income and become a focal point of tourism.

Finding prosperity through protection and conservation rather than exploitation has been the core tenet of this program.

Today, China's forests cover over a quarter of the country's landmass, with the stock surpassing 20 billion cubic meters. In northern China, the man-made forest shelterbelt acts as a green guardian, shielding the region from wind and sand while combating desertification.

The forests of the Three-North Shelterbelt Program not only create an ecological security barrier in the north but also serve as engines for green growth, fueling local industries such as forest-based agriculture and ecotourism. This vast sea of trees protects the land and sustains local livelihoods.