China reports prairie restoration gains and issues new natural‑resource asset guidelines

Chinese authorities announced that the country’s grasslands have continued to improve, with 180 million ha in good or moderate condition – about 70 % of the total pasture area – and a total of roughly 267 million ha nationwide. Since the start of the 14th Five‑Year Plan (2021‑2025), an average of more than 3 million ha of degraded pasture has been restored each year, rodent and pest infestations have been controlled on over 6.6 million ha, and annual fresh‑grass production has exceeded 600 million tonnes. The 15th Five‑Year Plan (2026‑2030) will further strengthen governance and management capacity for these ecosystems.

In parallel, the Chinese government published new guidelines on July 4 for the management of natural‑resource assets. The document, issued jointly by the Communist Party’s Central Committee and the State Council, sets out a framework to create a more robust system by 2030 and a fully institutionalised management structure by 2035. It calls for clearer asset definitions, stronger supervision, improved rights registration, unified monitoring and accounting, enhanced green‑finance services, and greater scientific and digital support for sustainable use of natural resources.