The traditional Chinese Mid-autumn Festival falls on September 21 this year. As the day draws near, moon cakes become the most popular food given as a gift. With the varieties of moon cakes changing constantly, a new type packaged in wooden boxes has appeared on the market. These "wooden-box moon cakes," made in south China's Guangzhou and north China's Shenyang, are selling well in both supermarkets and hotels.

Chinese experts estimate that 10 million wooden-boxes of moon cakes will require the felling of about 100 trees with a diameter each of some 10 cm. In this case, consumers are "eating" lots of trees in addition to the moon cakes.

China is not rich in forest resources, with the percentage of forest coverage standing at 16.55 percent, ranking the 111th in the world, and with average per-capita forest area ranking the 119th. The percentage of forest coverage only accounts for 3-4 percent of the world total, so it is difficult to meet the needs of a 1.3-billion population that accounts for 22 percent of the world total.

It is reported that the percentage of forest coverage of Japan far exceeds that of China, while it imports large amounts of throwaway chopsticks from China each year. Moreover, the imported chopsticks are recycled after being used and are made into paper pulp.

The experience deserves consideration, Chinese experts said.

The date of Chinese Moon Festival, also called the Mid-Autumn Festival, is on the August 15 of the Chinese lunar month. The festival is an occasion for family reunion. Chinese families like to get together to eat the moon cakes and watch the full moon. Moon cakes play an important role in the festival gatherings and gift giving. These palm-sized round cakes symbolize family unity and perfection.

(china.org.cn by Li Jingrong, September 20, 2002)