Because there are no records and data to show the exact acreage of the forests of China, the world in general has very little knowledge of her present forest resources. Owing to the lack of transportation which has kept the people from traveling from place to place, even the Chinese themselves know very little about their forests. Articles have been written by many to show how the Chinese in many parts of the country cannot even dig roots and pick up branches for fuel. The recent drought in Northern China leaves the impression that all Chinese mountains might be bare. Floods, occurring frequently in China as a treeless country. However, while these conditions are true for part of the country, they are not true for other parts. The shortage of timber in China, especially throughout these large treeless sections, is due to the lack of transportation facilities. What merchantable timber there is, is inaccessible to the market.
Ling, Wen Ming
"Is China Treeless,"
Ames Forester: Vol. 9
, Article 4.
Available at: http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/amesforester/vol9/iss1/4