Page "Arbor Day" Paragraph 14

In 1981, the fourth session of the Fifth National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China adopted the " Resolution on the unfolding of a nationwide voluntary tree-planting campaign ".

This resolution established Arbor Day ( 植树节 ) and stipulated that every able-bodied citizen between the ages of 11 and 60 should plant three to five trees per year or do the equivalent amount of work in seedling, cultivation, tree tending or other services.

Supporting documentation instructs all units to report population statistics to the local afforestation committees as the basis for workload allocation.

Moreover, those failing to do their duty are expected to make up planting requirements, provide funds equivalent to the value of labor required or pay heavy fines.

Therefore, the tree-planting campaign is actually compulsory, or at least obligatory ( that is, an obligation to the community ).

The " voluntary " in the title referred to the fact that the tree-planters would " volunteer " their labor.

The People's Republic of China celebrates Arbor Day on March 12, a day founded by Lin Daoyang, continue to use following the date of Arbor Day of Republic of China.