Mr. Elmo Drilling, the FAO consultant, with the company of two other project experts, i.e. Professor Liu Jinlong, Renmin University of China and Dr. Zhuang Zuofeng, Director of Project Management and Development, APFNet, paid an on-the-spot visit to Wangyedian Forest Farm in Inner Mongolia, during 10-14 November 2010.
The purpose of the trip was to screen the potential demonstration sites for the assisted natural regeneration (ANR) project, which is developed by FAO and APFNet to summarize and demonstrate the best practices on cost-effective ANR model in the Asia-pacific region. During the visit, the three experts met with the local technicians and discussed with them to pre-select five types of ANR model and propose specific ANR treatments for each model, namely:
Regeneration of young natural forests with high density. Treatments suggested are defining the number of trees by planting conifer tree species, remaining the broadleaf tree species and other thinning treatment;
Regeneration of Chinese Pine forests after logging. Treatments suggested are putting aside forest plantation for natural regeneration, protecting seedlings, loosening the soil, and enriching seeding;
Regeneration of larch forests after logging. Treatments suggested are defining the number of trees by thinning conifer tree species, protecting the broadleaf tree species, loosening the soil, and planting complementarily (companion planting);
Shelterwood logging in the naturally regenerated forests of Chinese pine. Treatments suggested are soil loosening and seeding enrichment;
Transformation of the low-quality secondary broadleaf forests. Treatments suggested are planting conifer tree species after clear cutting, loosening the soil to promote the regeneration of broadleaf tree species.
As one of the key state-owned forest farms in Chifeng city, Inner Mongolia, Wangyedian Forest Farm is a comprehensive forest site that integrates forest management, timber production, seedling nursery, forest tourism as well as experimental research. The farm covers an operational area of 28,000 ha and possesses a growing stock of 1.35 million m³. It is composed of six operational units, one timber dissemination stop and a tourist village.
