In April 2025, China celebrated the tenth anniversary of a commercial logging ban in the Greater Khingan Mountains region of Inner Mongolia.

The initiative marks a significant shift toward sustainable forestry practices aimed at ecological restoration and the expansion of forest coverage.

Seedling cultivation has become a crucial focus, with around 300,000 spruce seedlings currently being nurtured in a greenhouse within the state-owned forest reserve.

Experts highlight that saplings cultivated in such facilities require approximately a year before they are ready for outdoor transplantation, followed by another six months of growth for afforestation efforts.

Last year alone, the forestry sector successfully cultivated approximately 3.4 million spruce and larch saplings, facilitating the afforestation of over 3,666 hectares of land.

The logging ban has prompted changes in workforce dynamics.

Forest rangers such as Fan Hongbin, a former logger, now monitor forest health and engage in fire prevention activities.

Prior to the ban, the area had supplied over 200 million cubic meters of timber, contributing significantly to local economies through tax revenues exceeding 20 billion yuan (about 2.75 billion U.S. dollars) from 1952 to 2015. Recognizing the need for ecological conservation, China initiated a natural forest protection program in 1998, ultimately leading to the logging ban on April 1, 2015, targeting key state-owned forests.

The ban has necessitated the retraining of approximately 16,500 forestry workers, transitioning them into roles that support the area's ecological restoration.

Many have taken on responsibilities related to tree planting and monitoring for illegal activities.

Additionally, a new ecological economy has emerged, focused on utilizing understory resources and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

The China Inner Mongolia Forest Industry Group Co., Ltd., which oversees much of the region's forestry operations, has diversified its business initiatives to include a range of agricultural products, leveraging local resources to enhance ecological conditions while supporting local economies.

The company's innovations have led to the development of over 40 beverage products derived from local flora, and it has created seasonal employment opportunities for around 3,000 workers during peak harvesting periods.

In terms of environmental impact, the total ecological area of the forest spans approximately 106,700 square kilometers, including 940,000 hectares of China's largest contiguous virgin forest.

The forestry carbon sink project, initiated as a pilot program in 2014, has reported cumulative sales exceeding 60 million yuan, reflecting the region's commitment to transitioning from a timber-based economy to one focused on carbon offsets.

This transformative approach is evidenced by testimonies from local workers, who express satisfaction with the restoration of forest ecosystems under the protective measures established a decade ago.