How to plant trees？ It is the key to make native tree species the main force of greening according to local conditions

Native tree species refers to the natural distribution of trees in this area or the long-term growth of local trees. National Forestry and Grassland Administration recently released that China actively adopts native tree species and grass species to carry out afforestation and greening. At present, all the artificial afforestation in China basically uses native tree species.

National artificial afforestation basically uses native tree species.

Since 2021, National Forestry and Grassland Administration has approved 47 improved varieties of forest trees, all of which are native species. At present, 670 indemnificatory nurseries have been built in China, focusing on cultivating fine varieties and strong seedlings of native broad-leaved tree species, shrub species and high-quality economic forest species, with an additional seedling production capacity of nearly 100 million plants, thus ensuring the demand for native tree seedlings for national greening.

In promoting the construction of forest cities, National Forestry and Grassland Administration requires that native tree species should be the main species, and the utilization rate of urban native tree species should reach more than 80%, so as to increase the application of native tree species and grass seeds in urban greening.

National Forestry and Grassland Administration has instructed 29 provinces to issue a list of main native tree species, and made clear the suitable areas and suitable greening types of native tree species, which provided a basis for popularizing the use of native tree species. The "Reference List of Major Cultivated Precious Tree Species (2022)" was issued to guide all localities to actively cultivate local precious tree species.

Wangkui, Heilongjiang: Native Tree Species in Urban Greening and Forestry Engineering "Playing the Leading Role"

Wangkui County, Suihua, Heilongjiang Province, is an important commodity grain base in China and a key area for the construction of the "Three North" shelter forest system project. The local area combines urban greening with key forestry projects, afforesting according to local conditions, and building ecological barriers with native tree species.

CCTV reporter Shi Yuyu:The tree species used in the "Three North" shelter forest in Wangkui County, Suihua City, Heilongjiang Province is the native tree species Larix gmelinii, which has the characteristics of evergreen all the year round and tall trees, and can provide effective shelter for the farmland next to it.

Entering Wangkui County, a series of "landscape green corridors" came into view. Since it was incorporated into the "Three North" shelter forest construction project system, according to the long, cold and dry climate characteristics of northeast winter, the local area mainly planted native tree species with cold resistance, drought resistance and easy growth, and the utilization rate reached over 90%.

Zhang Jingbing, director of afforestation station of Forestry and Grass Bureau of Wangkui County, Suihua City, Heilongjiang Province:In the past, there was no such shelter forest. Because the wind blew our corn down, this phenomenon was called "wind scraping the ground". Now, with the shelter forest, this "wind scraping the ground" phenomenon has been greatly reduced.

After years of "Three North" shelterbelt construction, the farmland shelterbelt area in Wangkui County has reached 4,900 hectares, effectively sheltering 135,000 hectares of farmland, accounting for more than 95% of the county’s farmland area.

Not only did the "Three North" project choose native tree species, but also Wangkui basically used native tree species in urban greening. With the goal of "the city is in the forest, the road is in the green, the building is in the garden, and the people are in the landscape", the local green garden projects such as Wangkui Botanical Garden have been implemented.

Wang Shuqi, Deputy Director of Wangkui Garden Construction Service Center, Suihua City, Heilongjiang Province:The Botanical Garden covers an area of 450,000 square meters, all of which are local varieties, including spruce and Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica. It adapts to the local climate and grows vigorously.

At present, the urban greening coverage rate in Wangkui County is 40.38%, ranking first in Pingyuan County of Heilongjiang Province.

Sun Chenggang, Deputy Director of Wangkui Garden Construction Service Center, Suihua City, Heilongjiang Province:In combination with the construction of the "Three North" shelterbelt project, we adhere to the principle of respecting nature and adapting trees in suitable places, giving priority to the selection of excellent native tree species, so that urban residents can feel real benefits.

Shijiazhuang, Hebei province: strengthening scientific research and cultivation to improve the quality level of native tree species

In Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, the research and application of local native tree species have been strengthened, new tree species and new strains have been cultivated, and the quality level of local tree species has been continuously improved.

The recent high temperature weather in North China has made the Woods in the park a good place for many citizens to enjoy the cool.

Shijiazhuang citizen Li Xupeng:The park is also tree-lined. Even in a high temperature day of more than 30 degrees Celsius, you won’t feel particularly hot and sunburned if you come here for a walk and enjoy the cool.

Shijiazhuang citizen Qiao Jing:Because its flowers in spring are very beautiful, I was attracted by this flower, and then I looked it up and found it was called a neem tree.

The neem tree mentioned by the citizens is an ancient native tree species, which was recorded in Qi Min Yao Shu in the 6th century A.D. and widely distributed in northern China.

However, in the long-term growth and development process, problems such as single variety and loose wood have also appeared in neem. In order to fully explore the excellent characteristics of this ancient native tree species, foster strengths and avoid weaknesses, a "research team for the development and application of neem germplasm resources" was established in the local area.

Tian Guoying, Dean of Shijiazhuang Agricultural and Forestry Research Institute, Hebei Province:Together with China Academy of Forestry, Hebei Normal University and other scientific research units and universities, we formed a research team to excavate and utilize the native tree species Melia azedarach, and cultivated 8 new varieties and strains successively.

Nowadays, in Shijiazhuang, there are more than 20 native tree species such as Melia azedarach, which are widely used. These native tree species have strong adaptability and resistance to the local growth environment, especially to extreme low temperature or high temperature. At the same time, it is easy to plant and has a high survival rate, which can maximize its own characteristics and meet the greening effect.

Fangchenggang, Guangxi: Casuarina equisetifolia, the "guardian of the sea", greening the city and coast.

Fangchenggang, Guangxi, located at the southernmost tip of Chinese mainland coastline, is a typical coastal city with Beibu Gulf in the south. Usually, the wind and sand in coastal cities are relatively heavy, so greening should not only pay attention to beauty, but also consider wind and sand fixation. Casuarina is an excellent tree species with three characteristics. Let’s get to know it together.

On the sea side of the West Bay in Fangchenggang City, Guangxi, rows of Casuarina trees grow along the coastline, forming a shelterbelt and a unique urban landscape. Casuarina equisetifolia is an evergreen tree of Casuarina, which is salt-tolerant and sand-resistant. It is a pioneer tree species in coastal shelterbelts and is known as a loyal "guardian of the sea".

Zhong Yu, Head of Garden Department of Fangchenggang City Management Supervision Bureau, Guangxi:Because its root system is very developed, it has a very good protective effect on wind, and its leaves are very thin, and it is a scale leaf, so its demand for water is much smaller than that of other broad-leaved trees, so its wind-proof and sand-fixing ability is very good.

Not only that, Casuarina grows rapidly, with a height of 30 meters. Coupled with its beautiful tree shape, Casuarina is also used as a street tree and has a good performance in urban greening.

Su Xuepeng, Director of Nursery of Forest Seed Breeding Center in Fangchenggang City, Guangxi: Especially in our coastal city, if it is a seawall or a beach, this kind of Casuarina tree is really beautiful.

According to the data provided by the garden department of Fangchenggang City, at present, more than 60% of the urban greening trees in Fangchenggang City are native trees like Casuarina. Because of their strong adaptability and strong resistance to natural disasters, native tree species are gradually showing their value with the increase of dosage.

Zhong Yu, Head of Garden Department of Fangchenggang City Management Supervision Bureau, Guangxi:The salinity and alkalinity in the urban mudflats are very high, and it is very difficult to survive by planting other trees. However, if Casuarina equisetifolia is planted, it can effectively form a certain green barrier, which can effectively increase the green quantity of our coastal cities.

(CCTV reporter Shi Yuyu Liao Wei, Liu Chang Suihuatai Shijiazhuang Taiwan)