East China province taps forest wealth with green finance

FUZHOU, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Under the dappled canopy of east China's lush woodlands, Yang Shuiming gently inspected the Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua, a prized herb in traditional Chinese medicine, which infuses new vitality into local forestry.

He tended the plants with devotion, knowing that these leaves carry not only the promise of healing patients but also the hope of a brighter future for local farmers. To his delight, he successfully expanded his medicinal herb plantation last year, confident that his green investment had solid financial backing.

Back in 2014, Yang founded a cooperative in Guangze County, Fujian Province, aiming to grow various medicinal herbs beneath the towering forest trees. He began cultivating over 2,000 mu (about 133 hectares) of forest land. But with planting cycles stretching as long as three to five years, and little income in the early years, financial pressure soon mounted.

Waiting years for harvests and managing upfront costs no longer daunted Yang after his cooperative secured an 800,000 yuan (about 111,500 U.S. dollars) forest development loan in 2024. The infusion of capital enabled him to expand his Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua plantation by 200 mu.

"With this funding, our medicinal herb plantation expansion has progressed smoothly," Yang said.

Yang's story reflects how Fujian, a subtropical Chinese province known for its rich biodiversity, is pioneering green finance to unlock the value of forest resources while safeguarding the environment.

Since the launch of a dedicated forest development loan program in March 2022, Guangze's rural credit cooperative has issued loans totaling 95.6 million yuan, according to an official of the local forestry bureau.

These funds are helping forest farmers like Yang expand sustainable operations from herb cultivation and bamboo processing to carbon sink initiatives.

In Nanping City, where Guangze is located, a growing portfolio of green financial products now supports forest-based industries. These tools, characterized by large credit lines, low interest rates, and extended loan terms, are making it easier for rural entrepreneurs to invest in long-term ecological ventures.

By bringing inclusive, flexible financing directly to the forest floor, Nanping is channeling capital into sustainable growth while advancing rural revitalization.

Fujian's green finance transformation was no accident. As early as 2020, the province designated Sanming and Nanping as pilot zones for green finance reform and embedded sustainability goals into its broader financial development strategy. A series of guiding policies followed, encouraging banks and insurers to tailor their services to the unique needs of the forestry sector.

Home to one of China's largest collective forest areas, Fujian boasts over 121 million mu of forest, nearly three-quarters of which remains open for further development. With a mild climate and fertile soil, the province is a natural greenhouse for forest-based industries.

By 2030, Fujian aims to develop 35 million mu of forest land into productive ecosystems, generating more than 130 billion yuan in output. The province's ambitious plan includes 7 million mu for planting, 5 million for breeding, 16 million for harvesting and processing, and 7 million for eco-tourism and landscaping. ■