The Forest Law was promulgated in 1984, and amended in 1998, 2009 and 2019 respectively. The latest revision entered into force on July 1, 2020.

There are 84 articles in total.

The key points are as follows:

1.This Law shall apply to the protection, cultivation, and utilization of forests and trees and the operations and management activities of forest, trees, and woodlands conducted in the territory of China.(Article 2)

2.The forestry department of the State Council shall be in charge of the national forestry work.(Article 9)

3.Forest resources belong to the state, except those that are collectively owned under the law. State woodlands and the forests and trees thereon may be so determined by law as to be used by forest operators. The trees planted by rural residents around their buildings and on plots of cropland and hilly land allotted for private use belong to the individuals. The trees planted by urban residents in the courtyards of their own buildings belong to the individuals. (Article 14 and 16 and 20)

4.The state shall establish a system of protected areas with national parks as its mainstay in typical forest ecological areas in different natural areas, forest areas where precious animals and plants grow and reproduce, natural tropical rain forest areas, and other natural forest areas of special protection value.(Article 31)