Serious Effect of Qing Dynasty's Cultivation on Forestry

Under the rules of the emperors Kangxi(1654—1722) and Qianlong(1736—1795) in Qing Dynasty(1616—1911),the Chinese enjoyed one of the most peaceful and stable periods in the history up to then,thanks to the enlightened governance of the emperors and their efforts to develop agricultural production and reducing farmers' burdens.In the middle of Qing Dynasty,China's population increased rapidly,resulting in serious social problems.The government then concerned little with environment,taking measures no more than “lifting bans”,“relieving refugees”, and “promoting cultivations”.Deforestation and charcoal production at the time were very common throughout the country,bringing about the most large-scale ecological devastation.The paper analyzes and discusses the reasons,processes,and consequences of the disaster.