The World Bank announced the approval of the Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project with an overall budget of US$115.2 million, of which US$80 million will be financed by the World Bank.
The project aims to restore the Hunan forest in China following a 2008 ice storm that damaged the country's southern and central regions.
22 January 2013: The World Bank announced the approval of the Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project with an overall budget of US$115.2 million, of which US$80 million will be financed by the World Bank. The project aims to restore the Hunan forest in China following a 2008 ice storm that damaged the country’s southern and central regions.
Specific objectives focus on enhancing the resilience and provision of ecosystem services among ice storm affected ecological forest plantations, including through increased forest biodiversity and productivity. In particular, the project will replant about 27,700 hectares (ha) of forest. An additional 18,600 ha will be actively regenerated through inter-planting, while another 12,600 ha will be naturally regenerated.
Main project activities are; replanting and assisting the rehabilitation of ecological plantations; improving and developing nurseries that support forest cooperatives; and boosting technical services and extension. The project completion date is set for March 2019. [Press Release: China – Promoting a more resilient forest ecosystem in Hunan] [Project Document: Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project]