Reforestation and biogas development in rural Yunnan

Sustainable agriculture and reforestation play an important role in carbon sequestration. China is fully aware of the major role its forest cover could play in the fight against global warming. The country has therefore made a commitment to reforest more than 40 million hectares by 2020.

Chinese authorities have also made the promotion of sustainable rural development a key concern, while also working to combat global warming.

This program supported by AFD and launched in 2010 was implemented in two prefectures (Qujing and Pu'er) in Yunnan Province. The project had two main objectives:

• Reforestation: new tree plantations (including walnut, eucalyptus and pine) and rehabilitation of damaged forests in order to improve their yield and sustainability. The project also enabled recognition as a PEFC-certified forest for the sustainable management and the control chain.

• Rural biogas: The project funded 24,000 individual biodigesters. Low-income families were the main beneficiaries.

Franco-Chinese cooperation was developed with the involvement of companies, NGOs and experts for the project implementation, monitoring and communication. The French Global Environment Facility (FFEM) also supported the project, providing funding aimed at generating emission reduction certificates on the voluntary market.

• At total of 32,000 hectares of forest was planted or restored;

• Forest plantations help limit erosion in Yunnan's watersheds, with positive impacts extending to neighboring countries;

• 2.8 million equivalent tons of CO₂ will be avoided over 20 years;

• Finally, the use of biogas in dwellings reduces pollution inside the home and brings healthier conditions for rural communities.