The illegal cutting of trees will be punishable by at least three years in jail under new forestry conservation rules.
Amendments to the mainland's Criminal Law follow official complaints of widespread illegal logging.
Authorities warned that tree-cutters convicted of 'destroying forestry resources' without a permit would face an automatic three-year term with possible life imprisonment for flagrant violations.
Officials cited more than 753,000 cases of 'damage to forestry resources' in the past five years, most involving illegal logging.
China's state press reported a farmer in Anhui province was jailed for life for cutting down US$6,750 (HK$52,240) worth of timber without a permit, despite repeated warnings.
The vice-chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, Wang Bingqian, said tough jail sentences for black-market lumberjacks 'reflects the demands of the broad masses, especially the environmentalists'.