The old-growth forest coverage in Southwest China's Yunnan Province has dropped to 9 percent, one fourth of the world's average level, Greenpeace, a non-governmental environmental organization, said Tuesday.

The organization pointed out in a report released Tuesday that a large quantity of primeval forest has been destroyed and turned into man-made forest led by local officials in pursuit of the economic interest.

Wu Hao, director of forests campaign with Greenpeace, said primeval forest in Yunnan Province is the base camp for research of the country's biodiversity.

"There are loopholes in the management of the forest, which must be closed before further damage is made," Wu told the Global Times.