Great Cuttings, Deforestation in China

Man must conquer heaven. Grain is the backbone for the nation. Create farmland by encircling the lake. Cultivate on the top of mountains, and plant rice at the center of lakes. How much courage you have, and how much yield the field will produce. — Governmental slogan "To feed its increasing population, the Chinese government mobilized the farmers, about 85% of the Chinese population then, to clear and burn forest tracts in order to enlarge the cultivated land area. Furthermore, to realize his romantic ideal of vaulting China into the forefront of the world economy and clear away any ideological obstacles in his political control, Mao launched the “Great Leap Forward” from 1958 to 1961 and the “Cultural Revolution” from 1966 to 1976. During both nationwide campaigns, devastating deforestation took place."