Gardening experts say the lack of long-term management after planting is a major cause of low survival rate of sapling, according to China Network Radio, www.cnr.cn, on March 12, which was China's 34th Arbor Day.

Over 20 percent of saplings planted last year did not survive this year in Suqian, Jiangsu province. Gu Qinqi, a retired gardener, said, "No one trims the new sapling after planting, so the rate of survival is bad."

"Saplings are very fragile and need protection after planting," said Yuan Cheng, director of the Suqian Forestry Technical Guidance Station.

In the last 10 years, 1.8 billion trees were planted in Henan province, but its forest coverage rate is still below the national average. The forestry department said tree planting is organized mainly on Arbor Day every year, but with little maintenance, so the trees can't survive.

Henan province plans to target a 90 percent tree survival rate in 2012. To achieve this goal, the forestry department emphasized the importance of management to maintain the newly planted trees.