Statutory measures for the protection and enhancement of the urban forest in Guangzhou City, China

Guangzhou City, the largest municipality in South China, with a high green cover, was chosen for a case study. The assessment includes measures with a bearing on the planning, development, management and protection of urban trees and urban landscapes at the national, provincial and municipal levels. Four national laws accompany a plethora of administrative documents to define an overall urban-forestry framework, and to demarcate the relevant authority and responsibility at different planes of the government hierarchy. [UMN]