A Study On Forestry In Ming And Qing Dynasties In Henan Province

In the 21^st century,human beings become more and more concerned about environmental issues which threaten their existences. Forests,which are closely related with humankind,plays an irreplaceable role in depurating environs they live in ,so trees planting and forestation,which result in green mountains , clear rivers and the amelioration of quality of life,have won widespread recognition. Henan province,the cradle of Chinese civilization,which features profund traditional cultures,largest population,richest resources,prosperous tourism industry ,agriculture and forestry dominated industry structure, has been playing a significant part in the development of national economy. To improve ecological environment and quality of life of human beings,the summarization of past experiences and missteps appears imperative. Through peer-reviewed studies both domestic and abroad,conclusion has been reached that the study on forestry history in Henan province,especially that of Ming and Qing Dynasties.still remains a blank field for research .So study on forestry history in Henan province during Ming and Qing Dynasties , which intends to probe the causes underlying the ebb and flow of forests in the central part of China and summarize historical merits and demerits during that period, not only bears instructional significance to Henan forestry in the new era, but also hold referential bearing in the 21^th century,hence further strengthen the role Henan plays in the rising of Central China .Based on field-work investigation , first-hand data about the status quo of forestry in Henan province were acquired.Through gathering substantive works and chorographies related to Henan forestry in Ming and Qing Dynasties,valuable historical data about Henan forestry were obtained. Through filtration,collation and analysis of data collected, vicissitude of forestry ecological environment in Henan province ,which consist of topography, physiognomy,climate,water conservancy, vegetation and animals,etc,was discussed.On the basis of natural regionalization of ecological forestry production in Henan province,which comprises shelter-economic forests of Taihang Mountains in the northern part ,shelter forests of loess hills in the western part, shelter forests of Huang-huai-hai plain in the eastern part,shelter-firewood farmland forests of Nanyang Basin,timber-economic forests along Tongbai and Dabie Mountains in the southern part,the outline of Henan province ,the ebb and flows of localforestry,the history of forestry administration, forestry functionary ,forestry statute , forestry cultures, which involves miniascape arts, traditional folklore and poems related to forestry,forestry science and education,which inculdes seedling,afforestation,pest control,and forest protection etc.forestation celebrities and noted old trees,were discussed and the merits and demerits of forestry during Ming and Qing Dynasties in Henan province were summed up.In the thesis,the status of forestry during Ming and Qing dynasties in Henan province was shown to bear following traits. The forest region of Taihang Mountains in the northern part of Henan province featured population increase,cultivating woodland for farming ,firewood not being readily available,etc. The forest region of loess hills in the western part of Henan was characterized with vanishing of most woodlands and preservation of aged woods in remote mountains. The forest region of Huang-huai-hai plain marked calamity-infested frequent flooding .caused by the Huaihe River and the Yellow River , and scarcity of woodlands ,hence "the Yellow River Flooded Region"in the eastern part of Henan province was formed. The forest region of Funiu mountains in the west showed the trait that vegetation had been well preserved ,while that of Nanyang Basin featured sparse aged woodlands and much plantation. The forest region along Tongbai and Dabie Mountains in the southern part of Henan province had been labelled as "the Ban Area" and marked the original and well conserved vegetation.The causes for uninterrupted attenuation of forests in Henan province were also pointed out.The first cause was the cultivation of mountain woodlands for farming to support increasing population.The second cause was cutting woodlands to construct official buildings which resulted in depredation of forests .The third cause was the destruction of woodlands as an aftermath of frequent wars.The fourth cause was the absence of forestry management institutions which ended up in inefficient supervision.The fifth cause was that forests were hit by diversified natural disasters,which encompassed drought,flooding,locust calamities,tornadoes and earthquakes,etc.The sixth cause was the chang of climate, which leads to gradual disappearance of virgin forests.In the paper,forestry administration in Ming and Qing dynasties in Henan province was summarized.The foresters and management modes of forestry departments during that period were analysed.The forestry legal system in Ming and Qing dynasties ,which included woodland cultivation, forest conservation,timber administration,practicality taxation, legal system of forestrydepartments,was discussed.The science and education related to forestry in Ming and Qing dynasties in Henan province ,which comprised seedling breeding,tree planting ,forestation technologies,sealing mountains for breeding forests,farming and woodlands intercropping,pests control,culture and education activities ,forestry-oriented literary production and "forest culture viewpoint",etc.was also canvassed.Forestry celebrities and ancient trees were also undergone statistical processing.Through reflection and analysis of forestry in Ming and Qing Dynasties in Henan province,important thoughts of that periods were concluded, that forests ,especially that of mulberries,constitute great invent related to the national economy and the people's livelihood, that forests possessed ecological functions,so human beings ought to coexist with nature to better protect ecological environment.Major thoughts about forest economy were also put forward, that forestry constitutes the material foundation of commodity exchanges, that set out on a road to prosperity by exploiting mountains and rivers abiding by local conditions , that forest production was considered to earn more benefits and save more labors compared with other kinds of crop production,that farming and forestry ought to be combined obeying intergrative management ,that cultivating wasteland , planting trees and deferring taxes should be adhered,that forests were beneficial to edema caused by wind-evil etc.Also in the paper,forestry thoughts of several celebrities were treated,encompassing that of Yusen'multi-benefits of forests,Weiyuan's learning merits from the foreign to conquer the foreign,Zhangzidong's persuading learning for effective and efficient administration ,Kangyouwei's planning as a whole under state-owned premise,etc.Out of it .conclusions about basic experiences of forestry production in Ming and Qing Dynasties were drawn ,that people during that period of time had gotten a clear understanding about one of the most important functions of forests,that is, soil and water conservation,that it was widely recognized destruction of forests was related to flooding and filling-up of rivers, that profound detailed discourses had been given about the significant role forests played in water conservation, that understanding had been enhanced about the relations between forests and natural camalities such as flooding and droughts,etc. that people got to know such functions of forests as regulation of climate.being wholesome to human bodies and minds ,that forests'function in guarding against wind and cold was recognized afresh.Based on literature studies on forestry in Ming and Qing Dynasties in Henan province characteristics and existing problems facing current forestry in Henan province were analysed .sustainable strategies of Henan forestry in the 11^th five-year period were stated as follows.First,rational distribution and scientific programming of productive forests.Second,setting up rules and systems to strengthen policy supports. Third,deepening independent innovation to provide technology support.Fourth,widening channels to raise money to form financial support.Lastly,establishing the new ethics of forests,viz,harmonious development.The directions of development of natural forest regions above-mentioned were as follows.That of shelter-economic forests region of Taihang mountains in the north part of Henan Province were woodland-oriented and restoring woodland-converted farm-plots back for afforesting. That of shelter forest region of loess hills in the western part stressed conserving soil and water and adjusting measures to local conditions.That of shelter forest region of the Huang-huai-hai Plain in the eastern part adhered to perfecting forest networks and farming- wood intercropping.That of the forest region on both slopes of Funiu mountains emphasized shelter and timber production.That of farmland-shelter and firewood forest region of the Nanyang Basin accentuated forest-depended protection and boosting of farming. That of timber-economic forest region of Dabie and Tongbai mountians in the south followed opening up new woodlands .consolidating present achievements and paying more attention to benefits.