Analysis On China's Forestry Policy Transitions(1949-2009)

Forest is the main body of terrestrial ecosystem; forestry is the main body of ecological construction.60 years since New China was established, forestry construction has made great achievements. Facing the global warming and ecological civilization situation today, in the 2009 Central Conference of Forestry Work further defined the role of forestry:an important role in sustainable development, primary position in the ecological construction, fundamental role in the western development and special status in addressing global climate change.Summing up the 60 years'Forestry Policy Transitions of New China will help us gain a better view of current status of China's forestry sector, and develop more reasonable forestry policies in the future. In this paper, literature research methods, comparative research methods, case study methods are used in analyzing the policy transitions, especially on the policy context, decision-making process, policy ideas and content, as well as the policy effect. In the analysis, there are four main phases of China's forestry policy transitions:forestry recovery and development phase (1949-1977), fast development phase (1978-1998), Sustainable Forestry Development phase (1998-present).The article concludes that from 1949 to 1978, timber production was the main policy target of forestry policies; from 1978 to 1998, as the construction of "Three North" Shelterbelt Project, the policy development entered the stage that timber production and ecological construction were paid equal attention upon; since 1998, ecological construction has become the focus of new policies. In all,60 years since the founding of New China, China's forestry policies have experienced the transitions from "timber production" oriented to " timber production and ecological construction equally cared", then to "ecological construction priority"; from "governmental single-led" decision-making process to "broad public participation" decision-making; and the form of forestry policies became more Legalized. The major contradictions facing by forestry are people's ecological, economic, and cultural needs toward forest, which are the same as the main issues of forestry policy formulation and implementation at current stage of forestry sustainable development. Therefore, understanding the current situation China's forestry, building sound policy platform, expand policy participation, promoting scientific and democratic decision-making are the inevitable choices for promoting China's forestry policy.