Yes, China has a significant amount of forest cover, making it one of the countries with a large forest area globally.
According to the U.N. FAO, 21.9% or about 206,861,000 ha of China is forested.
China's Forest Cover Explained
Based on the data from the U.N. FAO, China's forest cover can be understood in two key ways:
- Percentage of Land Area: Forests cover nearly 22% of China's total landmass. While not as high as some countries with dense forests, this represents a substantial portion of the vast territory.
- Absolute Area: The absolute area of forests is enormous, totaling approximately 206.8 million hectares. This figure places China among the leading countries globally in terms of total forest area.
Key Facts about China's Forests
Here are some important points regarding China's forest landscape:
- Vast Area: The sheer size of 206,861,000 hectares is a significant amount of land dedicated to forests.
- Increasing Cover: China has been actively engaged in reforestation and afforestation programs for decades, which have contributed to the increase in forest cover percentage.
- Diverse Ecosystems: China's large size means its forests encompass a wide range of ecosystems, from temperate forests in the north to subtropical and tropical forests in the south.
While 21.9% might seem moderate compared to countries with 50% or more forest cover, the immense size of China means this percentage translates into a very large absolute forest area. Therefore, in terms of total hectares, China indeed has a great deal of forests.
