Yichun’s Eco-Revolution: From Logging Ban to Economic Boom

In 2014, the city of Yichun in Northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province made a bold move: halting commercial logging in its natural forests after decades of environmental strain. Now, a decade later, this decision is paying off big time—transforming the local economy and proving that green initiatives can drive real growth.

Once dependent on timber production, Yichun faced a critical choice when over-logging left forests degraded. By pivoting to eco-friendly industries like tourism, agriculture, and renewable energy, the city has created over 50,000 new jobs since 2014, according to local reports. CGTN’s Olivia He explored how residents are thriving in roles ranging from forest rangers to e-commerce entrepreneurs selling organic honey and mushrooms.

“We’re no longer just cutting trees. Now, we’re planting them and building a future,” said a local farmer who transitioned to sustainable crop cultivation. Yichun’s story is a blueprint for balancing ecological preservation with economic innovation—a lesson especially relevant as global climate efforts accelerate.

Reference(s):

BizFocus Ep.91: Yichun logging halt spurs economic growth

cgtn.com