The Study On Forest Policy In Song Dynasty

Forestry plays an irreplaceable role in the life and production of the ancient Chinese. This article aims to make an investigation on Forest Policy in Song dynasty. Forest resources in the North of Song dynasty which is the political and economic center of all previous dynasties have been damaged seriously. But the abundant forest resources still remain in the mountain areas. For the South, forest resources in the plain area have been heavily influenced and the damage also started in the hilly over the development of Tang and the Five Dynasties. Besides, the impacts of Southern migration of Song Dynasty also increase the consumption of forest resources. But on the whole, the forest resources in the South are better than in the North.The management of forest resources faces new trends in Song Dynasty. The huge official requirements, increased urban populations and the flourish of various industries, which all need the support of forest resources, have caused the shortage of forest materials in some areas. On the other side, such demands also stimulate the boom of timber and wood markets in Song dynasty. Under this background, the Song government actively adopts relevant economic policies to deal with such a new situation. The three main aspects of economic policy just as follows.Firstly, the government establishes the relevant policies for the development of the forestry according to the various national undertakings, and the construction of forestry production has vigorously carries out, which includes mulberry cultivation , the pond Sludge forest ,forest road relays, military defense forest, animal husbandry, forest supervisors and other construction.Since the country expansively promotes forestry constructions that are not only play an important role in the completion of various country undertakings, but also relieve the pressure on inadequate forest resources.Secondly, the government strengthens the management of forest materials. According to the situation that the forest resource is insufficient and it needs rely on the supply of timber and forestry market and the additional tax. The Song government, by using the market supply, establishes various rules and regulations, which from the management of timber and wood market and overall planning for timber use to integration of timber transport channels,to strengthen management and control toward trading and using of wood and timber.Third, the government improves the system of forest officials. The formulation and implementation of forest policy can not do without the participation of forest officials. On the basis of the previous governments, the Song pays further attention to improve forest official system from the central to the local government. The administrative centre of official is Ministry of works (工部),and TaiFu Court(太府寺),DuShui Jian(都水监),JingZuo Jian(将作监), along with SiNong Court(司农寺) as general affairs sections, are in charge of forestry revenue, forest management and tree planting, etc. The local government composed of , the officials at the provincial ,prefecture and the county military and county government officials, which is responsible for giving the order of forestry construction, supervising and implementing the forest production. The local government has also explored an improved management system which includes clear-cut job responsibility and proper system of rewards and penalties. For the national forest planting area, the central and local officials hold hand to work on it. Such an improved forest official system enables the forest policy to complete comprehensively in Song dynasty.Under the background of socio-economic development and the new situation of forest use, the Song government plays an active role in establishing and implementing the appropriate policies for forestry production and management, and further improves the system of forest official to facilitate the implementation of the policies, which motive the long-term development of forest construction and management in Song dynasty. Objectively, the forest policies in Song dynasty provide a good environment for the healthy development of the Forest while relieving the pressure on the consumption of forest resources.