Why did Yunnan restrict timber production in the late 1990s?

In the late 1990s, Yunnan implemented strict controls on timber production because previous logging practices had been essentially unchecked and were highly devastating to the local landscape.1

This shift toward conservation was part of a broader effort to protect the province's environment. Since that time, Yunnan has actively promoted reforestation campaigns and established numerous protected forests and nature reserves, which has successfully increased the extent of the province's forest cover.2