BEIJING, Feb. 27 (Xinhuanet) -- China will expand its investment in reforestation over the next five years with the goal of raising the country's forest cover from the current 18.21 percent to 20 percent.

    The plan was announced by the State Forestry Administration (SFA) Director Jia Zhibang at a news conference here Monday.

    Prevention and control of desertification, construction of wildlife and wetland natural reserves and the development of fast-growing, high-yield timber forest will also be the focuses of the administration, said the official.

    Jia said China has implemented its forestry development strategy over the past five years, investing a total of 212 billion yuan (26.5 billion U.S. dollars) in key projects including the protection over natural forests, replanting forests on former farmland with fast-growing and high-yield timber forests.

    The latest statistics from the SFA show that China's forest stock volume reaches 12.5 billion cubic meters and the forest cover is 18.21 percent.

    Jia said China's deserts shrank by 1,283 square kilometers every year. Enditem