(Yicai Global) Dec. 19 -- Forestry departments across China are stepping up supervision to detect illegal activities that clear forested land, causing biodiversity loss and soil erosion.

More visits are expected to follow after the National Forestry and Grassland Administration sent officials in southwestern China's Sichuan province, the southeastern province of Fujian, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and Shanghai to monitor resources and to investigate illegal activities, Yicai Global learned.

The related bureau in southern China's Guangdong province has sent a letter to a local forest park to inform it about an upcoming probe, the head of the park said to Yicai Global today. The operator has been reporting illegal construction at the park to authorities over recent years, expecting the bureau to stop such deforestation.

The administration sends officials to local governments to urge them to hike their efforts to solve ongoing cases, removing all distractions, while restoring the destroyed resources and holding relevant people accountable, said Xu Jide, department director at the NFGA.

In October 2021, the administration disclosed 28 cases of activities that destroyed forest resources. In May, it added another 10 cases of illegal quarry or mining operations. There are more cases that are not closed yet.

Editors: Shi Yi, Emmi Laine, Xiao Yi