明代晋北边关护木研究

Forest Protection on Border Area of North Shanxi Province during the Ming Dynasty

在明代,晋北边关一带属于九边重镇地区之一,由于社会对木材和土地的需求量增大,这一带的森林是不断减少的。森林一但被毁,北部游牧骑兵容易入关。为此,边关将帅、地方官员,上奏皇上,请求下旨,保护边关森林。为了加强森林的防御功能,在明中后期,朝廷令边关军民建设人工林。

During the Ming dynasty, the border area of north Shanxi was belonging to the nine border military towns＇ areas. With the increasing of the demand of wood and land, the forest of this area reduced constantly. Once the forest was destroyed, it would be easy for the nomadic cavalry to go through the military pass. Therefore, the local general and officials reported to the emperor for forest protection in the border area. In order to enhance the defending function of forest, the central government of Ming dynasty asked the local military troops and common people to plant trees extending the forest cover during the middle and late periods of Ming.