China gained 447,500 sq km of planted forest but lost vast natural cover

 China’s large-scale tree planting programmes helped increase overall forest cover over three decades, but a new study says they also coincided with growing fragmentation of natural forests. Researchers found plantations often expanded near natural forest edges, breaking up connected habitats. The study also found China’s Natural Forest Protection Program helped slow this fragmentation in protected areas. China’s large-scale tree planting programmes helped increase overall forest cover over three decades, but a new study says they also coincided with growing fragmentation of natural forests. Researchers found plantations often expanded near natural forest edges, breaking up connected habitats. The study also found China’s Natural Forest Protection Program helped slow this fragmentation in protected areas.