China has also maintained growth in both forest area and forest stock volume for more than four decades, while achieving sustained reductions in desertified and sandy land areas, the administration said.

　　The new plan calls for continued large-scale greening programs while emphasizing that afforestation and ecological restoration should be carried out according to local land and water conditions. It also highlights efforts to improve forest and grassland quality, restore degraded grasslands, protect wetlands and combat desertification, rocky desertification and soil erosion.

　　A key priority is the continued implementation of the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, China"s flagship ecological project to control desertification and sandstorms in the country"s northern regions. According to the plan, decisive victories should be achieved in the program"s three landmark campaigns by 2030.

　　The plan also pledges to further develop a protected area system with national parks as the mainstay. China will advance the integration and optimization of protected areas, improve ecological corridors and habitats and establish new national parks in an orderly manner.

　　To increase the economic contribution of ecological resources, the plan calls for expanding the underforest economy, strengthening the supply of "forest food", improving timber self-sufficiency and developing modern grass-based animal husbandry.

　　During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China"s annual forest food output exceeded 200 million metric tons, making it the country"s third-largest food source after grain and vegetables, according to the administration. More than 60 million people were directly employed in the forestry and grassland industries.