In response to a national directive aimed at improving the provision of natural resource elements, the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Natural Resources and the Jiangsu Forestry Bureau have recently issued a new implementation notice.

The notice introduces a series of incremental policy measures designed to boost the efficiency of natural resource allocation and accelerate the launch of major provincial projects. These measures are accompanied by detailed operational guidelines.

Measure One: Streamlining Land Acquisition Approvals for Development Zones

For land acquisition within urban development zones as defined in territorial spatial plans, the requirement for a separate land acquisition and development plan is eliminated. Instead, county-level or higher local governments will provide a "Statement on Public Interest Compliance for Land Development Acquisition." This statement will be submitted concurrently with the application for agricultural land conversion and land acquisition approval. Previously approved land acquisition and development plans remain valid and can continue to serve as the basis for land acquisition.

Measure Two: Enabling "Construction Upon Approval" for Major Infrastructure Projects

For provincial-level or national standalone infrastructure projects in sectors like transportation, energy, water conservancy, and military, which require State Council or provincial government land use approval, early-stage land use can be permitted. This applies to critical individual components with tight schedules or other parts of projects with urgent seasonal construction needs. After obtaining project feasibility study approvals, a stable land boundary opinion from the relevant provincial industry or investment authority allows for the application of early land use rights, enabling "construction upon approval" for major infrastructure.

Measure Three: Comprehensively Deepening the "Multi-Review Integration" Reform

This reform integrates various thematic assessments, such as those for land and forest use, at different project stages. It standardizes the assessment framework, eliminates redundant content, and optimizes the review process, implementing a unified model of "one report, one review, one opinion." It allows for 11 thematic reviews, including assessments for limited human activities within ecological protection red lines, to be consolidated into a single "Comprehensive Project Admission Stage Assessment Report." Similarly, three other thematic reviews, such as the unavoidability assessment for ecological protection red lines, can be merged into a "Comprehensive Project Approval Stage Assessment Report." These reviews can be organized via a combination of online and offline methods, resulting in a single comprehensive opinion to serve as the basis for all subsequent administrative procedures.

The notice also introduces additional policy measures focused on whole-project-lifecycle service. These include implementing integrated land and forest use approval to break down administrative barriers, allowing linear infrastructure projects to be approved in sections to match phased construction, and resolving historical land use issues where violations were not caused by the project owner—approval can proceed upon a commitment to rectify. It also refines measures for the continued temporary use of land and forest for key projects, precisely supporting construction needs to enhance the precision, conservation, and convenience of natural resource allocation.

Moving forward, the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Natural Resources and the Jiangsu Forestry Bureau will maintain a project-oriented approach, committed to ensuring full resource support. They will focus on addressing emerging challenges, deepening reform and innovation, improving administrative efficiency, and introducing more practical measures. The goal is to provide robust natural resource support for Jiangsu's role as a major economic driver through streamlined processes, efficient services, and stronger safeguards.