Shanxi to afforest over 183,000 ha in 2019

Shanxi province will see its afforestation area increase by over 183,333 hectares in 2019, as it moves to further strengthen its ecology, according to the provincial forestry authority.

The province will also inject 300 million yuan ($44.69 million) of funds into  restoring 40,000 hectares of degraded forest this year, and about 26,000 ha of hillside will be closed to facilitate afforestation. 

Located on the Loess Plateau, Shanxi has long been plagued by soil erosion. The province aims to increase its forest coverage from 20.5 percent at the end of 2018 to 26 percent in 2025.