China Urges Responsible Logging Overseas - Reuters

[hatrack]

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

I feel better now.

BEIJING - China urged its logging companies on Tuesday to act responsibly overseas and practise sustainable forestry to avoid tarnishing the country's image.

Environmental groups accuse Chinese businesses of complicity in the illegal import of wood from irreplaceable forests across Africa, Latin America and Asia to feed China's booming export machine as well as to meet domestic demand. But Beijing says it is clearing up the problem and counters that Western countries that import its timber products should share the blame. Now the government has unveiled the draft of a handbook promoting sustainable forestry activities abroad, the Forestry Ministry said in a statement on its Web site (www.forestry.gov.cn).

"Proactively encourage Chinese companies to go out overseas and develop foreign forestry activities to make up for the lack of materials for the domestic wood processing industry," Deputy Forestry Minister Li Yucai was quoted as saying.

Yet he added "establish the image of our government being 'a responsible great nation'".

Ed. - emphasis added

EDIT

http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/43049/story.htm

[lumberjack_jeff]

1. I dunno. Are American companies encouraged to follow sustainable forestry overseas?

Just askin'.