Spatio-Temporal Pattern, Evolution and Influencing Factors of Forest Carbon Sinks in Zhejiang Province, China

Abstract

Zhejiang Province, charged with the task of opening “an important window”, should take the lead in the implementation of the national “carbon peak, carbon neutral” strategy. The intention of this study is to start from the intersection of economics and geography, and on the basis of GIS analysis, use the spatial Dubin model to study the spatio-temporal evolution trend, key influencing factors, and spatial spillover effects of forest carbon sequestration in 72 districts and counties of Zhejiang Province from 2000 to 2020, to provide a theoretical and practical reference for how to formulate regional synergistic forest sink enhancement measures and help Zhejiang achieve the goal of carbon neutrality. The conclusions are as follows: (1) From 2000 to 2020, the overall growth of forest carbon sequestration in all regions and counties of Zhejiang Province was relatively high, but the regional differences were large. The concentration center and range moved to the southwest. (2) If the spatial effect is considered, the increase of per capita GDP, road density, and deforestation will reduce the forest carbon sequestration, and the conservation of ecological public welfare forests will have a significant positive relationship with the forest carbon sequestration.