Summary：According to a symposium held recently to mark the 30th anniversary of the "May 6, 1987" forest fire in the Greater Khingan Range, the annual number of forest fires nationwide has averaged 7,082 since 1988, with an average of 73,000 hectares of forest affected—figures representing decreases of 55.6% and 92.3%, respectively, compared to the period prior to 1987. However, the country is currently in a peak season for forest fires, and the situation regarding forest fire prevention remains extremely critical.
According to a symposium held recently to mark the 30th anniversary of the "May 6, 1987" Daxing'anling forest fire, China has seen an annual average of 7,082 forest fires and 73,000 hectares of affected forest area since 1988—figures representing decreases of 55.6% and 92.3%, respectively, compared to the period prior to 1987. However, the country is currently in a period of high susceptibility and high risk for forest fires, and the overall situation regarding forest fire prevention remains critical.
Over the past three decades, my country has continuously refined its forest fire prevention system, which features distinct Chinese characteristics. The national force of professional and semi-professional forest firefighters has grown from fewer than 10,000 personnel in 1987 to 616,000. The specialized forest fire corps has expanded from three contingents totaling 10,000 personnel to nine contingents totaling 25,000, with their deployment covering 14 provinces and autonomous regions. The number of provinces and regions conducting aerial forest protection has risen from six to 19, and the number of leased aircraft has increased from 57 to 262; with a growing fleet of large and medium-sized aircraft, aerial firefighting capabilities have become more diverse and direct suppression capacity has significantly improved.
The National Forest Fire Prevention Headquarters noted that data from the World Meteorological Organization indicates the past decade was the hottest on record globally. In 2016, the global average temperature reached a record high for the third consecutive year; global surface temperatures have risen by nearly 1°C compared to the mid-20th century, and the world has entered a period of high forest fire incidence. Meanwhile, as my country continues large-scale land greening efforts, total forest resources are increasing rapidly, and the scope of forest fire prevention has expanded from regional to national coverage and from seasonal to year-round operations. Following the complete ban on commercial logging of natural forests, the accumulation of combustible undergrowth has accelerated—reaching 50 to 60 tons per hectare in some areas, which is more than double the critical threshold for major forest fires. Regarding the state of forest resources, young and middle-aged forests account for 65% of the total, with many being monoculture stands; these forests possess low inherent fire resistance, posing a significant threat to forest resources should a fire occur. The National Forest Fire Prevention Headquarters stated that future forest fire prevention efforts must prioritize prevention and emphasize practical action, ensuring rigorous and meticulous preventive measures; stress early detection and rapid response to prevent small fires from escalating into major disasters; employ scientific command and comprehensive strategies to continuously enhance the capacity to combat large-scale forest fires; and uphold the bottom line by prioritizing safety, striving to minimize losses caused by forest fires.
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