Afforestation History in Heilongjiang Province during the Late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China

Research on the history of afforestation in Northeast China is relatively scarce, and few studies have examined local afforestation practices in this region. Drawing on archival materials, local gazetteers, forestry records, and relevant scholarly works, this paper systematically examines afforestation activities in Heilongjiang Province from the late Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China era. The study traces local afforestation attempts in the late Qing Dynasty, analyzes public and private afforestation efforts under changing land and forest ownership during the Republic of China, and investigates scientifically managed afforestation under the "puppet Manchuria regime", which relied on "forest finance". The afforestation process in Heilongjiang during this period exhibits distinct characteristics. By focusing on forestry policy, woodland tenure, and forest property rights, this study reveals varying outcomes across different phases, offering insights and lessons for post-1945 afforestation efforts in Heilongjiang Province.