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Environmental Challenges
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a major air pollutant emitted from the combustion of fossil fuels. Since 1990, China has been responsible for generating about one quarter of global emissions. SO2 causes respiratory damage in humans. It can also form acid rain which damages crops and trees. Injury to plants includes photosynthetic damage, decreased stomatal function, and less efficient carbon fixation. In China, planting appropriate species is critical because certain tree species can tolerate and absorb SO2 leading to cleaner air. Through research, scientists have found that the Kurogane holly (Ilex rotunda) is a key species for greenbelts near polluted industrial districts.

Another major air pollutant is suspended particulate matter or dust, which can cause vascular and respiratory illness and contribute to toxic runoff. Trees remove suspended particulate matter from the air by accumulating dust on the surface of their leaves and bark, this effect is most pronounced in conifers due to their higher proportion of overall leaf area. Incorporating more evergreens into China’s urban forests can improve air quality and water quality.

Nanjing
Nanjing Vertical Forest Project, designed by Stefano Boer i of Stefano Boeri Architetti, consists of two towers: one 200 meter tower that will hold office spaces, a museum, a rooftop club, and a green architecture school while the other 108-meter tower that will include a Hyatt hotel and swimming pool. With construction now complete, native trees, shrubs, and perennials are being installed. 600 tall trees, 200 medium-sized trees and 2,500 cascading plants and shrubs are being planted on the building facades. It is expected to absorb 18 tonnes of CO2 while providing 16.5 tonnes of Oxygen annually.

Beijing
In order to understand the urban forests of China one can examine the capital, Beijing, where some of the most largest afforestation efforts are under way. The city has invested heavily in urban forests, with a 60,000 hectare suburban forest project which increased the forest coverage from 14.8% to 25% in 2011. The city also makes efforts to maintain nurseries to provide planting stock for urban planting and reforestation. Beijing, like many Chinese cities, has been guided towards more sustainable urban forestry goals by the "National Urban Forestry Development Strategy" which was developed in 2007. The development strategy outlined requirements for a recreation greenbelts which a minimum of 80% of citizens should have within 500 meters of their house and must be open to the public for free. These changes and investments in urban forestry represent a large rural to urban migration of people within China and the desire to popularize ecological and cultural knowledge of greenspaces.

Urban Green Space Development
With a rapidly growing population, China has started developing strategies to improve urban life. The concept “making forests enter cities and making cities embrace forests” has been promoted. The creation of the “National Forest City” title in 2004 has incentivized urban forest development. This program has led to significant positive changes in the quality and quantity of many Chinese cities. Currently, 58 cities have been awarded this title. While changes have been made, inequity of recreational green spaces may still be a challenge. In a case study of Wuhan, China, equal distribution of greenspaces was found, but there was unequal distribution of public parks. These findings suggest that some social groups and populations cannot equally enjoy the recreational and health benefits of these public greenspaces.