How to punish deforestation?

Cutting down a certain number of trees may constitute a crime and will be punished by the court. Whoever illegally cuts down forests or other trees in large quantities shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years, criminal detention or control, and shall also, or shall only, be fined; If the number is huge, he shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than three years but not more than seven years and shall also be fined; If the number is especially large, he shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than seven years and fined. Legal basis: Article 39 of the Forest Law of People's Republic of China (PRC) prohibits deforestation, quarrying, sand mining, earth borrowing and other acts that destroy trees and woodlands. It is forbidden to discharge sewage and sludge with excessive heavy metals or other toxic and harmful substances into forest land, as well as dredged sediment, tailings and slag that may cause forest land pollution. Cutting wood, destroying seedlings and grazing on young forest land are prohibited. It is forbidden to move or damage forest protection signs without authorization. Article 345 of the Criminal Law of People's Republic of China (PRC): Whoever illegally cuts down forests or other trees in large quantities shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years, criminal detention or public surveillance and shall also or only be fined; If the number is huge, he shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than three years but not more than seven years and shall also be fined; If the number is especially large, he shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than seven years and fined. Whoever, in violation of the provisions of the Forest Law, wantonly cuts down forests or other trees in huge quantities shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years, criminal detention or public surveillance and shall also or only be fined; If the number is huge, he shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than three years but not more than seven years and shall also be fined. Whoever knowingly illegally purchases or transports illegally cut trees, if the circumstances are serious, shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years, criminal detention or public surveillance, and shall also or only be fined; If the circumstances are especially serious, he shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than three years but not more than seven years and shall also be fined. Whoever unlawfully and wantonly cuts down forests or other trees in national nature reserves shall be given a heavier punishment.