Forest carbon markets: a review

Review - Roger A. Sedjo (2003): Economics of Forestry

The many opportunities for mitigating atmospheric carbon emissions in developing countries include reforesting degraded lands, implementing sustainable agricultural practices on existing lands and slowing tropical deforestation. This analysis shows that over the next 10 years, 48 major tropical and subtropical developing countries have the potential to reduce the atmospheric carbon burden by about 2.3 billion tonnes of carbon. Given a central price of $10 per tonne of carbon and a discount rate of 3%, this mitigation would generate a net present value of about $16.8 billion collectively for these countries. Achieving these potentials would require a significant global effort, covering more than 50 million hectares of land, to implement carbon-friendly practices in agriculture, forest and previously forested lands. These estimates of host-country income potentials do not consider that outside financial investment may or may not be available. Our calculations take no account of the additional benefits of carbon sequestration in forest soils undergoing reforestation, increased use of biomass and reduced use of fossil-fuel inputs and reduced agricultural emissions. In all events, realizing these incomes would necessitate substantially greater policy support and investment in sustainable land uses than is currently the case.

The carbon sequestration potential of forest ecosystems is influenced by various factors, including climate change and forest management. Climate change directly impacts the rate of forest growth and the accumulation of biomass. Effective forest management measures could enhance the structural integrity of forests, thereby improving the carbon sequestration capacity and adaptability to climate change of forest ecosystems. However, the impacts of these factors on future carbon sequestration and its potential of forests remain unclear. There is a pressing scientific need to focus on whether future climate change will increase carbon sequestration potential, and how forest management should be carried out in the future, as part of the current efforts to develop nature-based climate solutions. This study focuses on the forests of Northeast China, located in a mid-latitude zone sensitive to global climate changes, possessing abundant forest resources and serving as one of China's primary carbon reservoirs, where extensive forest management has been implemented over the past decades. We assessed the carbon sequestration potential of Northeast China's forests under future climate change and forest management strategies. Specifically, we utilized multi-source data (such as forest inventory and remote sensing data), coupled with ecosystem process-based model LINKAGES and forest landscape model LANDIS PRO, to predict the forest succession and carbon storage dynamics of Northeast China during the 21st century. The study conducted multi-scale validation of the simulation results through multi-source data, thereby enhancing the accuracy of the model simulations. Then, we estimated the future forest above-ground carbon sequestration potential and quantified the impacts of climate change and forest management. The results suggested: (1) The simulation of the current spatial distribution of above-ground carbon storage and age structure in Northeast China's forests aligns closely with remote sensing products and inventory data; (2) Considering only forest succession, the above-ground carbon sequestration is projected to peak in 2060, with the rate of carbon sequestration reaching its apex in 2025-2030 at 0.08Pg C·a-1; (3) Climate change is likely to enhance the carbon sequestration potential and rate of Northeast China's forests, but to a limited extent, with an increase of 7.3% and 13.6% under the SSP245 and SSP585 scenarios, respectively; (4) It remains essential to continue forest management practices in the future to address the challenges posed by climate change.

This study investigates the determining factors for the success of collaborative research networks in higher education, focusing on the formation, development, and operation of these networks. Despite the growing recognition of the importance of collaborative networks, there is a lack of studies that comprehensively identify the critical factors for their success. Utilizing an integrative literature review, the research was conducted in the ERIC, Web of Science (WOS), and Scopus databases. The main research question is: what factors influence the success of collaborative research networks in higher education? The findings indicate that the effectiveness of these networks is influenced by structural, functional, and evaluative factors. The integration of information and communication technologies (ICT) is essential for effective collaboration, allowing geographically dispersed teams to work together efficiently. The study concludes that public policies that value collaborative networks are necessary to promote an environment conducive to integration and scientific collaboration. This study contributes to the understanding of the elements that influence the success of collaborative research networks, highlighting the importance of integration, diversity, funding, and knowledge sharing, with significant implications for the formulation of policies and practices in higher education.

Ecosystem service multifunctionality of mixed conifer-broad-leaved forests under climate change and forest management based on matrix growth modelling

The politics of numbers in forest and climate change policies in Australia and the UK

In this work, we employed two different ecosystem models in two separate case studies to assess the effects of forest age structure, management and gradual climate change on timber production and carbon sequestration of Finnish boreal forests with Norway spruce as main (dominant) tree species. Our case study examples demonstrated that over the 90 years simulation period the total timber production was from 16 to 30 % lower in southern Finland under the mild (SRES B1) and strong (SRES A2) climate change scenarios . In the northern Finland, the total timber production increased regardless of climate change scenario applied. Furthermore, both total timber production, its economic profitability and carbon stocks of forest ecosystem could be increased simultaneously if higher stocking (growing stock volume) was maintained over the rotation compared to the Finnish baseline forest management. However, timber production and carbon sequestration could not be maximised simultaneously. Thus, any preference of carbon sequestration in forest management would reduce the timber production and would result on opportunity costs.

Evaluation of the effects of forest management strategies on carbon sequestration in evergreen broad-leaved (Phoebe bournei) plantation forests using FORECAST ecosystem model

The science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) approach is currently representing a new teaching and learning process, trying to make an interconnection between these disciplines and their transversalization with the arts to potentiate the thematic scope in students and create new pedagogical and didactic methodologies to address the natural sciences and the different strong areas, therefore, it is important to understand the concept of STEM as an approach and the different sublines of work. Through the study of minorities and generation gaps, to the evaluation of the potential of current technology companies in the face of technological processes that act as mediation within the STEAM approach. To conduct a bibliometric analysis of STEM/STEAM teacher training in Colombia by analyzing scientific output, research impact, collaboration networks, and thematic trends using data from Scopus and Web of Science. This study applies a bibliometric methodology to analyze STEM/STEAM teacher education in Colombia, focusing on scientific production, research impact, collaborative networks and thematic trends using data from Scopus and Web of Science (WOS) between 2014 and 2024. A total of 64 articles from Scopus and 31 from WOS were analyzed. Using VOSviewer, we generated keyword co-occurrence networks to identify research trends, co-citation networks to examine collaboration among countries, and journal impact analysis to determine the most influential sources. The bibliometrix package in RStudio was used to calculate h-index values, and author productivity metrics. The importance of training teachers in pedagogical and didactic methodologies that allow the linking of these with a STEM/STEAM approach within the Colombian educational system is highlighted to improve the teaching and learning processes of these sciences in general and allowing to encourage the development of a country of skills through the STEAM approach for Colombia (STEAM + CO) in terms of student training.

Forest carbon incentive programs for non-industrial private forests in Oregon (USA): Impacts of program design on willingness to enroll and landscape-scale program outcomes

The South African government has positioned the Just Transition (JT) framework at the core of its climate and development agenda for 2030–2050. JT aims to reshape the economy to benefit most citizens while driving equitable and transformative change. This study examines the evolution of knowledge on just energy transitions in South Africa, employing a rigorous process guided by the PRISMA 2020 standards. Literature was sourced from Web of Science, Scopus, and EBSCOhost, and screening was facilitated through Rayyan to ensure transparency and reduce bias. A bibliometric evaluation was conducted using VOSviewer (version 1.6.20) to map co-authorship networks and keyword co-occurrences, enabling the identification of collaboration patterns and thematic trends. Results show two predominant streams: technical decarbonisation (renewable energy, coal, and energy policy) and rising justice-oriented topics (community participation, inequality, and poverty alleviation). Although concepts of justice exist, they are disjointed and inadequately connected with techno-economic narratives, constraining the empirical foundation for inclusive policy formulation. Collaboration networks are limited, with qualitative techniques prevailing at 56.52%, hence hindering the development of standardised metrics essential for accountability in international financial agreements. In addition to bibliometric insights, systemic restrictions such as economic reliance on coal, governance difficulties, technological impediments, and social equity disparities present structural threats to sustained decarbonisation. Confronting these difficulties necessitates interdisciplinary research, methodological innovation, and governance reforms that integrate principles of justice into technical and regulatory frameworks. These findings offer practical avenues for integrating academic research with South Africa’s climate obligations and international accountability benchmarks.

Decentralization has become a central theme in debates on economic growth, governance effectiveness, and sustainable development. This study undertakes a bibliometric analysis of 1,322 articles published between 2005 and 2024, retrieved from the Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus databases. Using VOSviewer and Bibliometrix (R-package), the analysis maps research productivity, collaboration networks, and thematic clusters. The results reveal two dominant clusters: fiscal decentralization and its socio-economic and environmental impacts and determinants of decentralization and economic growth . High-ranked journals such as Sustainability and Environmental Science and Pollution Research emerge as leading outlets, while the most productive countries include the China and United States . The findings highlight underexplored areas such as decentralization’s role in renewable energy transitions and green finance. Framed within fiscal federalism and endogenous growth theory, this study contributes by identifying emerging trends, regional gaps, and policy implications for designing decentralization strategies that foster inclusive and sustainable economic growth. However, as a bibliometric study, it is limited in capturing case-specific or contextual details, which could be addressed in future qualitative or mixed-method research.

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues facing humanity and forests are increasingly seen as a key pathway to mitigating and adapting to the climate crisis. Because forests stand to play a significant role in reaching net-zero emission targets, politicians and policymakers must act decisively to engineer a rapid paradigm shift that maintains forests’ resilience and adaptive capacity. While there has been significant investment and advancement in forest carbon science to inform policy and planning, there remains a persistent science-practice gap to further integrate scientific information into forest carbon policy and management. Here, we use a survey, semi-structured interviews, and a review of relevant policy literature to assess the nature and extent of, as well as possibilities to bridge, the science-practice gap with regards to forest carbon science, management, and policy. Our results identified barriers to the science-practice gap and provide potential pathways to bridge the divide. We identified three key areas to improve forest carbon outcomes (1) improved data, tools, and models to assess trends and statuses of forests; (2) enhanced carbon science training among state forest practitioners and decision-makers; and (3) effective science-based communication for decision-makers and general audiences. Engagement with forestry stakeholders and iterative and participatory approaches, including targeted education and communication of complex scientific topics, can inform both policy and on-the-ground management. Overcoming such barriers to communication highlights important linkages between forest managers, policymakers, and scientists to address challenges of reaching a net-zero emission.

Influencer marketing is a strategy that businesses use to promote their products or services through partnerships with popular individuals or entities, known as influencers, on various social media platforms. This study embarks on a bibliometric analysis of influencer marketing, utilizing the Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) databases to collect comprehensive bibliographic data. Employing the PRISMA Flow diagram methodology, this research meticulously identifies, screens, and includes pertinent papers in the bibliometric analysis, addressing the growing significance of influencer marketing in contemporary digital strategies. The uniqueness of this study lies in its method of combining Scopus and WoS bibliographic data, utilizing RStudio software to merge and eliminate duplicates, ensuring a robust dataset for analysis. Our findings delineate a landscape of increasing annual scientific production within the domain, highlighting the most influential sources, authors, and the application of Lotka's Law to assess author productivity. Further analysis through Reference Publication Year Spectroscopy, thematic maps, and co-occurrence networks reveal evolving trend topics and thematic focal points within the field. Factorial and historiographic analyses, alongside examining the countries' collaboration networks, provide a deeper understanding of influencer marketing research's global impact and interdisciplinary nature. This bibliometric study not only charts the academic trajectory and key contributors of influencer marketing literature but also identifies significant research gaps and practical implications, offering a valuable roadmap for future inquiry and strategic application in the dynamic landscape of digital marketing. JEL Codes: M310 Received: 22/03/2024. Accepted: 10/07/2024. Published: 05/01/2025.

Socioecological system and potential deforestation in Western Amazon forest landscapes