On January 1, the State Forestry Administration Government Website (www. forestry. gov. cn) was formally launched.
    On January 4, Zhou Shengxian, the Director of the State Forestry Administration, signed the State Forestry Administration Order No. 2, and issued "occupied requisition forest examination and approval management practices".
    On January 10, the People’s Armed Police Headquarters announced order of the State Council and the Central Military Commission: the Director of the State Forestry Administration, Party Secretary Zhou Shengxian is appointed as first political commissar of the People’s Armed Police Forest Headquarters. Meanwhile, party committee of the Armed Police Headquarters decided to appoint Comrade Zhou Shengxian as the first secretary of Party Committee of Armed Police Forest Headquarters.
    On February 10, the CPC Central Committee Organization Department appointed Lei Jiafu as party member of the State Forestry Administration. On February 26, the State Council appointed Lei Jiafu as deputy director of the State Forestry Administration.
    On February 11, the State Forestry Administration for the first time granted an application of five new rose varieties from abroad, namely: the French company applied for the Meikangfu, Fangbisha, Mei Carrie, the German company applied for Kaluojiluo, Netherlands Company applied for Omni Param.
    On February 15 ~ 17, the National Forestry Office Ministerial Conference was held in Beijing. The main tasks were: guided by the important thought of "Three Represents" and implement conference spirit of the 15^th Plenary Session of Fifth Central Committee and the Central Economic Work, sum up the "9^th five-year" work, plan the "10^th five-year" work, study the future work in a decade, and deploy the work in 2001. Zhou Shengxian, Director of the State Forestry Administration, made an important speech entitled "highlight the layout adjustment, speed up ecological construction, make efforts to achieve the leap-forward development of the new century forestry", Deputy Director Li Yucai made a concluding statement, and administration leaders Jiang Zehui, Yang Jiping, Ma Fu, and Lei Jiafu attended the meeting.
    On February 20, the Ministry of Education and the State Forestry Administration decided to build Beijing Forestry University and Northeast Forestry University.
    On March 18, the State Forestry Administration set up "forest bio-genetic engineering safety committee", responsible for the national forestry GMO safety evaluation.
    On April 1, the party and national leaders Jiang Zemin, Li Peng, Zhu Rongji, Li Ruihuan, Hu Jintao and others went to Beijing Olympic Park to participate in voluntary tree planting activities. Jiang Zemin pointed out: "we need to persistently pursue national voluntary tree planting activity. If we persevere, we must achieve great results. During the ’Tenth Five-Year‘period, the country\’s afforesting work should be further strengthened." Li Peng said:” We need to plant trees, but more need to take care of trees.” Li Ruihuan pointed out: "Persisting is the most important thing in planting trees."
    On April 11, the State Forestry Administration announced the formation of six major forestry project management offices, namely: the natural forest protection project management office, located in the Natural Forest Protection Project Management Center; Two key shelter forest system construction project offices in areas of three-north and the middle & down reaches of Yangtze River, the Three-north Shelter Forest Project Management Office is located in the Three-north Shelter Forest Project Construction Administration, Shelter Forest Project Management Office of the middle & down reaches of Yangtze River, etc. is located in planting forestation department; Returning Fields to Forest (Pasture) Project Management Office; Desertification Prevention and Control Project Management Office around Beijing is located in the Desertification Prevention and Control Management Center (the State Forestry Administration Anti-desertification Office); Fast Growing Commercial Forest Base Construction Project Management Office, is located in the World Bank Loan Project Management Center of the State Forestry Administration; Wildlife Protection and Nature Reserve Construction Project Management Office is located in Wildlife Protection Department.
    On April 21, the State Forestry Administration set up forestry construction key project leading group. Zhou Shengxian was appointed to be director, Li Yucai, Jiang Zehui, Yang Jipeng, Ma Fu and Li Jiafu as vice director.
    On May 8, the State Forestry Administration issued "Natural Forest Resources Protection Project Management Measures" and "Natural Forest Resources Protection Project Verification and Acceptance Measures"
    On June 1, Zhou Shengxian, Director of the State Forestry Administration, signed the State Forestry Administration Order No. 3, and issued "The People\’s Republic of China Main Forestry Directory (the first batch)".
    On June 14 ~ 15, the National Academy of Forestry Technology Conference was held in the Great Hall. Chinese vice Premier Wen Jiabao attended the meeting and made important speeches. The Director of the State Forestry Administration Zhou Shengxian made an important presentation entitled "vigorously promote scientific and technological progress and innovation and provide strong support for achieving leap-forward development of forestry", the member of the Party Group Jiang Zehui made a concluding statement. Deputy Director Li Yucai, Ma Fu attended the meeting.
    On July 20, the leading group of China forest certification was formally established, whose main duties are: coordinate the establishment of certification criteria and index system for China\’s forest, is responsible for the development of forest certification policy, construction and operation of organization, as well as participate in international forest certification organization, and other issues. Party member of the State Forestry Administration and Dean of Chinese Academy of Forestry Jiang Zehui was appointed group director.
    On August 4, Minister of Agriculture Chen Yaobang and the Director of the State Forestry Administration Zhou Shengxian together signed the Ministry of Agriculture and State Forestry Administration Order No. 53, adjusted the protection level of Nostoc from grade 2 to grade 1.
    On August 28, the Central Commission Office for Public Sector Reform approved the State Forestry Administration to establish "National Timber Industry Management Office", is responsible for directing the national timber industry and managing the key state-owned forest the State Council has specified.

On August 31, the 23rd Session of the 9th NPC Standing Committee examined and adopted "The People\’s Republic of China Anti-desertification Measures." On the same day, President Jiang Zemin signed and promulgated Presidential Order No. 55, which goes into effect as of January 1, 2002.
    On October 29, the Ministry of Science, the Ministry of Technology and the Central Commission Office of Public Sector Reform approved the overall classification reform proposal of research institutes affiliated to the State Forestry Administration, agreed in principle to the scientific and technological structural reform proposal submitted by the State Forestry Administration.
    On November 12, the CPC Central Committee Organization Department appointed Comrade Zhu Lieke as party member of the State Forestry Administration. On November 21, the State Council appointed Comrade Zhu Lieke as deputy director of the State Forestry Administration.
    On November 29, Zhou Shengxian, Director of the State Forestry Administration, wrote Inner Political Department of Fish and Wildlife Service agent Bureau James • Jones, confirmed that " Protocol of the United States of America Ministry of the Interior and The People\’s Republic of China Ministry of Forestry on the exchanges and cooperation in nature protection" would extend another 5 year, validity extends to November 19, 2006.
    On December 21 ~ 22, the National Wildlife Conservation and Nature Reserve Construction Project was officially launched. The planned project construction period was from 2001 to 2050, and would be carried out in first phase, second phase and third phase. During the construction period, intended to save a group of national key protected wildlife, to expand, improve and build a number of national nature reserves, hunting banned area and wildlife species and rare species resources base, recover and develop rare species resources. Zhou Shengxian, the Director of the State Forestry Administration made an important speech, Deputy Directory Ma Fu made a concluding speech. Administration leaders Yang Jipeng, Lei Jiafu, Zhu Lieke attended the meeting.