A team of Chinese mergansers in Jilin. [Photo provided to CHINADAILY]

Ecological protection grows local biodiversity

Jilin has placed great emphasis on its ecological development for more than a decade, and as a result the province has made great progress in improving its environment, increasing its biodiversity and growing industries centered around nature.

As a pioneer in green development in China, Jilin had planted 18,533 hectares of new forests, roughly the size of over 13,000 soccer fields, through June. Green spaces have been created or improved in 936 villages, and trees and grass have been landscaped along 1,373 kilometers of roads and railway lines throughout the province.

As one of China's greenest provinces, Jilin has taken effective measures to ensure its greenery continues to grow, with 8.22 million hectares area covered by forest, accounting for 44.6 percent of its land.

To help feed the forests, the Yuanchi Wetland, the upstream area of the Songhua River, and Zengfeng Mountain area have been upgraded into national natural reserves.

Grassland and forest hazard prevention mechanisms, as well as measures to protect biodiversity, have been in place in the province for years. No serious forest or grassland fire has been reported in Jilin for the past 38 years.

Forest-related industries in Jilin reported 139.8 billion yuan ($20.29 billion) in revenue last year. Emerging industries such as forest-centered tourism and healthcare services reported a 6.7 percent yearon-year increase in 2018 in terms of industrial output value.