Forest coverage in China spiked to 21.66% from a low level of 8.6% in 1949, said Peng Youdong, a deputy director of the State Forestry Bureau at the International Conference on the Restoration of Forests in the Asia-Pacific Region on Monday.

The Beijing-hosted meeting also celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Asia-Pacific Network for Sustainable Forest Management and Rehabilitation officially launched in 2008. 

Amid threats of habitat loss, deforestation, climate change and overdevelopment in the Asia-Pacific region, the organization, sponsored by China, aims to beef up forestation and curb natural resources draining. 

Ten years on, the body has grown into what encourages cooperation and dialogue over forestation among member states, cultivates talent in enhancing green efforts and goes hand in hand with the Belt and Road initiative.

(Compiled by Bai Yuanqi)