China’s legislature has adopted changes to the national forest law that officials say will reduce illegal logging.

The amendments approved by the National People’s Congress on Dec. 28 clarify forest use rights and make changes to the permitting system for logging. They take effect July 1.

Li Shuxin, deputy head of the Forest Law Department at the State Forestry and Grassland Administration, said at a Dec. 28 news conference that the changes were an attempt to balance use of natural resources with forest protection.

“The relationship between protection and development, between the public...

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https://news.bloombergenvironment.com/environment-and-energy/china-attempts-to-balance-forest-use-protection-in-amended-law