The forestry and grassland authorities of Heilongjiang Province, in collaboration with the provincial development and reform commission, finance department, and natural resources department, have jointly released the province's 15th Five-Year Plan for Forestry and Grassland Conservation and Utilization. This strategic document outlines the primary objectives and key initiatives for achieving high-level ecological protection and high-quality development in the province's forestry and grassland sectors over the next five years, aiming to further solidify the ecological security barrier for northern China.
By the year 2030, the plan sets an overarching goal of establishing a more stable ecological shield, comprehensively strengthening governance capabilities, and significantly improving the quality and efficiency of the forestry industry. Three major categories of core indicators have been established to guide this progress.
First, the quality of the ecosystem is expected to see significant enhancement. The forest coverage rate is targeted to reach 45.95%, with total forest stock volume hitting 2.392 billion cubic meters. The combined forestry and grassland coverage rate is projected at 51.2%, while the comprehensive vegetation coverage of grasslands is to remain stable at over 72%. Additionally, the area designated for national parks and other protected areas is set to account for more than 18.65% of the province's total land area.
Second, the capacity for ecological support and safeguards will be comprehensively reinforced. The province will continue to optimize its modern forest and grassland fire prevention system, which emphasizes preventive measures, integrated firefighting approaches, technological empowerment, and highly efficient coordination. The target is to keep the forest fire damage rate within 0.7 per mille and the grassland fire damage rate within 1.8 per mille.
Third, the forestry and grassland industry is poised for stronger growth. The influence of the regional public brand "Nine Treasures and Eighteen Products" will continue to expand, with the total output value of the forestry and grassland industry aiming to reach 218 billion yuan. A key focus will be on implementing actions to consolidate and enhance the carbon sink capacity of forest ecosystems, leveraging the "Longjiang Green Carbon" brand effect. The goal is to achieve an average annual carbon sink of 110 million tonnes of CO₂ from forest, grassland, and wetland ecosystems, initially establishing a pathway for translating carbon sink value.
The plan emphasizes that during this period, Heilongjiang will implement its main functional area strategy. This involves differentiated spatial control based on territorial functions, considering the ecological baseline and resource endowments, and following the natural geographical patterns of watersheds and mountain systems. The province will be divided into four development zones: the Greater and Lesser Khingan Mountains, the northern Changbai Mountains, the Sanjiang Plain, and the Songnen Plain. Furthermore, it will demarcate three spatial categories for scientific protection, systematic restoration, and rational utilization, aiming to create a development pattern with stricter protection, more effective restoration, and more scientific utilization.
The plan outlines six major tasks to be advanced during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. The first task involves scientifically advancing land greening efforts. This includes promoting the protection and restoration of important ecosystems, launching a tough battle for the Three-North Shelterbelt Program, improving forest quality, protecting and restoring grasslands, managing forestry and grassland resources, enhancing urban and rural greening, organizing voluntary tree planting, and revitalizing the forestry seed industry. These actions are intended to establish a green foundation for high-level ecological protection in the province.
The second task focuses on comprehensively advancing the construction of the protected area system. Efforts will be coordinated to build the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park, implement systematic governance of protected areas, strengthen the conservation of rare and endangered wildlife, and protect and restore wetlands to maintain the integrity of ecosystems.
The third task is to develop and strengthen the forestry and grassland industry. The focus will be on increasing the supply of forestry and grassland resources, expanding the "forest grain depot," building the "Nine Treasures and Eighteen Products" brand, developing "Longjiang Green Carbon," cultivating emerging and future industries, and establishing a modern operation and service system for forestry and grassland. These efforts aim to broaden the pathways for ecological value conversion and boost the income of forest farmers.
The fourth task involves consolidating the foundation of ecological security. This will entail coordinating the prevention and control of forest and grassland fires and pest infestations, fortifying the safety lines for forestry and grassland, and safeguarding the achievements of the national ecological security barrier.
The fifth task is to continue deepening reforms in key areas. Reform efforts will target collective forest rights, state-owned forest farms, state-owned forest areas, and the sustainable forest management system. These reforms aim to enhance the refined management of forestry and grassland resources and provide institutional safeguards for the modernization of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.
The sixth task is to promote innovation-driven development and open cooperation. This includes enhancing scientific and technological innovation capabilities, building a digital and intelligent forestry and grassland system, strengthening talent development, implementing high-level opening-up policies, and advancing the "Broadband Forestry and Grassland" initiative to inject technological vitality into the sector's high-quality growth.
The release and implementation of this plan signify a further improvement in Heilongjiang's top-level design for forestry and grassland conservation and utilization. It marks a new stage for the province's forestry and grassland undertakings, moving towards systematic governance, quality and efficiency enhancement, and the coordinated promotion of ecological protection and value realization. This will provide solid support for safeguarding national ecological security and building a modernization where humanity and nature coexist harmoniously.