The Chinese Academy of Forestry (CAF) has been involved in the study of forestry development strategy since 1957. With its research on the forestry development strategies, forest economics and decision-making approaches at different historic periods, the Chinese Academy of Forestry has provided an operational forestry development model appropriate for China's circumstances and forest status. Concept frameworks of forest management themed as Coordinated Economic and Ecological Development, Specialized Forestry Practitioners, etc., were proposed. Commercial values of forests were studied and justifications and implementation approach of forest valuation were provided. The philosophy of forestry specialization was suggested and demonstrated by the research team of China forestry development path. Research findings were also generated in term of China’s forest industrial policies and regional comparative study in this regard.
Numerous outcomes were produced in forest science and technology development strategies, planning, evaluation and S&T institutional reform, with the medium and long-term program for forest S&T development developed. The 21st Century Agenda Forestry Action Plan of China was formulated, presenting a blueprint of China's forestry development oriented towards the new century and providing the strategical goals of China’s sustainable forestry development and associated countermeasures. The quantitative analysis and measurement of science and technology achievements’ contribution to forestry economic growth was studied and concepts of contribution rate of forestry science and technology progresses and application and transformation rate of their outcomes were proposed. The project of Study on Forestry Strategy for China’s Sustainable Development, initiated by the State Forestry Administration and implemented by the Chinese Academy of Forestry, established the strategic guidelines for China’s forestry development strategy. It was the so-called “3-Ecos” strategy, namely covering the establishment of sustainable forestry development path based on ecological construction, establishment of national ecological security system based in forest vegetation, and establishment of an ecologically civilized society with beautiful and vegetated mountains”. The research findings were fully acknowledged and included in the State Council Resolution on Accelerating Forestry Development, which provided sufficient scientific evidence for the long-term policy and decision-making.
In addition, the social forestry system was studied and C&Is for evaluation social forestry programs at both national level and provincial level were established. More than 300 models of social forestry programs and nearly 200 integrated technical models at provincial level were provided. The forest tenure reform monitoring and evaluation system was studied and an integrated technical system for monitoring the resources, ecological and socio-economic benefits generated in the reform areas was provided, which also developed the resource information system integrating GIS, RS, PDA and database.
For the six decades since its establishment, the Chinese Academy of Forestry has made remarkable scientific achievements. For instance, more than 7000 academic papers have been published, of which over 2500 papers were included in SCI index journals and more than 1000 papers were included in EI journals.
Kick-off Meeting of Greater Dunhuang Ecological Protection and Regional Development Strategy Project
