Authorities reject claims a forest in China was destroyed to make way for vineyards
- Gansu government says forest is 4.65 sq km, about the same as when it was planted in 1963 to protect area from desertification and sandstorms
- But environmental group wants an explanation, saying that is nearly half the original size and it is ‘deeply shocked’ by investigation finding
But environmental group the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation did not accept the finding, saying it was “deeply shocked” by the government’s claim that the forested area had remained almost unchanged for the past six decades.
It took almost a year for the case to be heard, but the court ruled that the foundation could not act as a plaintiff, and the environmental group is now appealing.
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Historic Silk Road oasis Dunhuang being swallowed by desert sands in northwest China
Last week, the provincial authorities said they would look into the case after state-run Economic Information Daily reported that the forest – planted in 1963 to protect the area from desertification and sandstorms – had shrunk in size from just over 13 sq km (5 sq miles) in 2000 to just over 3 sq km (1 sq mile) today.