China's forestry and grassland sector is becoming increasingly technology-driven, with the contribution of scientific and technological progress reaching 62% during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) and expected to rise to 65% during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), according to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration (NFGA).

The latest advances were showcased at a national forestry and grassland science and technology conference, highlighting the growing role of intelligent equipment in forestry operations. Tracked robots and new energy forestry machines are helping improve efficiency in operations across complex terrain.

Technology is also reshaping forest protection. An intelligent wildfire response system combines unmanned aerial vehicles, algorithms and remote command systems to improve the speed and precision of firefighting operations while reducing reliance on manual intervention.

Meanwhile, an intelligent manufacturing system for uniform-thickness bamboo mats aims to automate bamboo processing, addressing long-standing challenges and promoting bamboo as a sustainable alternative to plastic.

The NFGA said the next five years will see greater efforts to bring scientific advances from laboratories into forests and grasslands.

Technology is also transforming China's camellia oil industry. At a demonstration plantation operated by the Hunan Academy of Forestry, smart irrigation systems, sensors and other technologies support precision management.

Portable harvesting machines can collect camellia fruits without damaging blossoms, while automated fresh-fruit processing equipment simplifies shell removal.

Improved crop varieties and precision cultivation techniques are delivering tangible results. At a demonstration plantation using integrated irrigation and fertilization together with grafted superior varieties, fresh fruit yield increased from 7,500 kg to 11,250 kg per hectare, while the oil yield rate increased by 8%.