Chongqing releases first forestry biodiversity report, targets 95% protection rate by 2030

Chongqing has published its first official report dedicated to forestry biodiversity, offering the clearest picture yet of the municipality’s wildlife, plant life, habitats and conservation systems. The document marks a major milestone in local environmental governance and sets an ambitious goal: by 2030, more than 95% of the city’s key wild animals and plants should be under effective protection.

Presented by forestry officials at a recent briefing, the report is the first citywide review of its kind in Chongqing and among only a handful issued at the provincial level in China. It brings together data on ecosystem health, habitat restoration, species diversity, reserve networks and environmental management, while also outlining the next stage of conservation priorities.

The findings portray a region where economic activity and ecological repair are increasingly being pursued side by side. During the current national five-year planning period, Chongqing maintained forest coverage above 55%, while the forestry sector generated an output value of 182.2 billion yuan. At the same time, large-scale restoration work was carried out across ecologically sensitive landscapes, including millions of mu of degraded land and extensive areas affected by rocky desertification.

Officials also highlighted a milestone in fire prevention: in 2025, Chongqing recorded no summer forest fires, a first for the municipality.

By the end of 2025, Chongqing’s forests covered more than 4.5 million hectares. The city also counted roughly 29,000 hectares of grassland and more than 270,000 hectares of wetlands. These habitats support a rich variety of life. Surveys documented more than 800 species of terrestrial wild vertebrates and over 6,000 species of wild vascular plants.

The number of nationally key protected animal species recorded in Chongqing has increased in recent years, rising from 112 in 2022 to 124 by 2025. According to the report, several forest-dependent species are showing stable or improving trends, suggesting that habitat protection measures are delivering results. Animals reliant on healthy woodland ecosystems, such as the forest musk deer and black leaf monkey, were cited as examples of species benefiting from stronger conservation efforts.

A central feature of Chongqing’s approach is a two-part protection network. The first is in situ conservation, which focuses on preserving species in their natural habitats. Following adjustments to the protected-area system, the municipality is expected to maintain 116 protected zones, along with eight important terrestrial wildlife habitats and nine migratory bird corridors. More than 90% of the city’s key protected wild animals and plants are found within these areas.

The second pillar is ex situ conservation, aimed at safeguarding endangered species outside their native environments. This includes breeding centers, rescue stations, zoos and germplasm banks. Through these measures, Chongqing has bred more than 1,800 nationally protected animals, rescued around 7,000 wild animals and stored 5,229 valuable plant germplasm samples. The preservation of the rare Chinese thuja has emerged as one of the municipality’s standout examples of plant conservation.

The report also points to stronger environmental governance. Chongqing has introduced regulations for wildlife protection and expanded implementation of the “forest chief” system, which assigns responsibility for forest management and conservation to officials at multiple levels. Under a structure described as “one chief, three officers,” the framework combines leadership, oversight, technical support and patrol work.

Over the past five years, more than 3 million forest inspections have been carried out. The municipality has also mobilized over 30,000 ecological forest rangers, supported by nearly 5,000 supervisors and technical advisers. Together, these teams monitor habitats, reduce environmental risks and respond to threats such as illegal activity or fire hazards.

Conservation is also being linked to rural livelihoods. Chongqing has encouraged woodland-based industries and eco-tourism as part of a broader effort to align biodiversity protection with local economic development. Authorities say 45 villages have been developed as model communities for shared prosperity, while 79 major forestry operators have received support.

One example comes from Datianchi Village in Liangjiang New Area, where forestry initiatives combine under-forest farming with cold-water fish cultivation across roughly 800 mu. The projects have included small wetland restoration, created more than 200 jobs and increased average household incomes by more than 3,000 yuan.

Public participation is another growing part of the strategy. Chongqing has established more than 30 nature education sites, including well-known locations such as Jinyun Mountain, Fairy Mountain, Shuanggui Lake and Jinfo Mountain. These centers host activities including birdwatching and plant identification, helping residents connect more closely with local ecosystems and deepening awareness of biodiversity protection.

Looking ahead, the municipality plans to build on these gains. Its headline target is to lift the effective protection rate for key wildlife and plant species from above 90% today to more than 95% by 2030. If achieved, the goal would place Chongqing among the country’s more ambitious regional biodiversity efforts and signal a continued shift toward landscape-scale ecological stewardship.