China completed 125 million mu (8.33 million hectares) of afforestation and the improvement on grassland, and reclaimed desertified land and rocky desertification of land that amounted to 28.57 million mu (190 hectares) in 2023, exceeding the country’s afforestation goals, a teleconference on the national forestry and grassland work held by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration revealed on Monday.

According to China’s Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program (TSFP), 22 projects of the 68 projects in the TSFP have started successively and have completed afforestation of 18 million mu.

China accelerated the implementation of key land afforestation projects, organizing the implementation of 96 key regional major ecological restoration and protection projects, the third batch of 25 national land afforestation pilot demonstration projects, and 16 projects for cultivating rare tree species.

China also carried out research and formulated closed-loop management measures for national land afforestation projects, and strengthened the comprehensive management of key projects throughout the entire process, according to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.

Besides, the data and information of the afforestation and desertification process will be optimized and improved in the combined system of forestry resource data and geographic information.

In 2023, 18 new internationally important wetlands and 29 national important wetlands increased in China, which implemented 14 major projects for wetland protection and restoration, 48 wetland ecological protection compensation projects, and 91 wetland protection and restoration projects.

The protection of ancient and famous trees and the prevention and control of harmful organisms continued to strengthen in 2023. The management archives and databases for ancient and famous trees were improved, and the national map for the protection and management of ancient and famous trees was established to achieve the initial dynamic and precise management.