China is home to some of the world¡¯s important forest ecosystems and global biodiversity hotspots. However, the predominance of monoculture forests has left them highly susceptible to diseases and pests, while rapid economic development has made ecological conditions fragile. As a result, these rich natural resources face biodiversity degradation, soil erosion, and flash floods.
To help China address these challenges, the World Bank approved a $150 million loan in 2019 for the . Implemented in Sichuan Province, this program was the first Program-for-Results (PforR) operation in China¡¯s forestry sector supported by the World Bank. PforR loans link disbursement of funds to the achievement of specific results and support institutional building and innovation.