China's forest products expected to fetch $365 billion this year

BEIJING: The commercial value of China's forestry products is expected to hit 2.4 trillion yuan (USD 364.74 billion) in 2011, according to China's State Forestry Administration.

The value of forestry industry output stood at two trillion yuan last year.

Rosin, rattan and bamboo furniture, wooden floor boards, fried fruits and flowers contributed noticeably to the value of commercial forestry, Xinhua quoted official reports as saying.

China will further boost its output in herbal medicines, mushrooms, vegetables and animal husbandry in forest regions, according to the administration.

China invested 297.9 billion yuan in forestry during the 11th Five-Year period (2006-2010), an increase of 80 percent from the previous five-year period.

In China, forests are defined as woods covering an area of more than 1 mu (0.07 hectares) with a crown density - the amount of sunlight blocked by plant materials - at or above 20 percent.