China's percentage of forest coverage has risen from 13.92 percent in 1993 to 16.55 percent, with a total forest area of 158.941 million ha. and timber reserves of 11.27 billion cubic meters, according to a communique released Tuesday by the State Environmental Protection Administration.

The communique shows that,excluding Taiwan Province, China has artificial forests of 46.667 million ha., ranking first in the world, with timber reserves of 1.01 billion cubic meters.

In 2000, China enjoyed a net increase of 457.525 million cubic meters in timber reserves and a net consumption of 370.752 million cubic meters, continuing the increasing momentum.

China is rich in grassland resources, with up to 400 million ha. of grassland, accounting for about 40 percent of its total land area and ranking second in the world. However, the per capita average is only 0.33 ha., about half of the world average.

Presently 90 percent of the grassland is suffering from deterioration, posing a severe challenge to the ecological environment of the country's grassland, according to the communique.

(Xinhua 06/05/2001)