This law was passed and promulgated in 1998 in the second session of the Standing Committee of the Ninth National People’s Congress. The contents include: Chapter I, General Provisions; Chapter II, Forest Management; Chapter III, Forest Protection; Chapter IV, Afforestation; Chapter V, Forest Harvesting; Chapter VI, Legal Responsibility; and Chapter VII, Supplementary Provisions. This law stipulates that forests will be divided into shelterbelts, timber forests, economic forests, firewood forests and special purpose forests. The law applies to typical forest ecotopes in different natural zones and areas where precious animals and plants grow and develop, natural tropical rain forest areas and areas with special conservation value. In other natural forests or areas that require special attention, nature reserves will be set up, and no logging will be permitted in these forests.