Carbon Forestry Research Articles

A study on the path planning and optimization of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality in the highway service area

The transportation sector is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing emissions of the Highway Service Area (HSA) can help decrease the sector's carbon footprint and serve as a model for green transformation. Consequently, this study firstly employs the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to calculate the carbon emissions during the operational phase of a certain HSA in 2022, and then analyses the emission structure. Subsequently, four emission reduction pathways are identified, including Photovoltaic (PV) power generation, electrification retrofitting, forestry carbon sinks, and green roofs, in terms of both Three 100 Initiatives and carbon neutrality measures. On this basis, the planning of carbon peak and carbon neutral strategies for this service area under different scenarios are carried out, taking into account the dual carbon targets and relevant policies. The findings indicate that: (1) the HSA emitted approximately 766.84 tons of carbon emissions in 2022, with 96.53 % from purchased electricity. (2) PV power generation offers the optimal emission reduction benefits among four emission reduction pathways. (3) In carbon peaking scenarios, initiating PV construction is the optimal emission reduction strategy. (4) In most carbon neutrality scenarios, the simultaneous implementation of PV construction and bamboo planting can meet the neutrality requirements by 2060. However, if the HSA continues to develop economically after 2030, the economy could grow until 2035 to meet neutrality requirements. These findings can guide emission reduction strategies for other HSAs, accelerating the sector's transition to low-carbon emissions while supporting the development of policies for zero-carbon HSAs.

No pain, no gain? Simulation of carbon reduction potential and socioeconomic effects of voluntary carbon trading in China during 2021–2060

Voluntary carbon market has become a key mechanism of stimulating carbon emission mitigation actions globally. In this study, we calculate the emission reduction potential of Carbon Generalized System of Preferences (CGSP), a dominated voluntary carbon trading mechanism in China, including on-going projects of forestry carbon sinks, waste clothes reuse, installation of distributed photovoltaic power generation system, and usage of energy-conserving devices, as well as other extended methods for their future mitigation potentials. We employ a computable general equilibrium model to delve into the effects of CGSP mechanism on carbon price, economic growth and household consumption, assessing its impact on the equitability of social welfares between urban and rural residents during 2021–2060. Our results indicate that employing the current methods for CGSP would lead to around 5.0 Mt CO2 reduction annually. since 2018, whereas adopting the extended methods would yield reductions of 157.1 Mt. Promoting forestry carbon sinks and energy-conserving appliances offers the most prominent emission reduction, while low-carbon travel shows the biggest potential going forward. CGSP will loosen carbon constraints on industries in the market and result in a lower carbon price, reducing the economic cost of carbon trading without compromising China's carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals. Supplementing CGSP could reduce the GDP loss by up to 0.2 trillion Yuan by 2030 and 0.9 trillion Yuan by 2060, compared to the sole operation of compliance carbon trading market. Provided fiscal stimulus policies, CGSP will further reduce GDP loss by 1.1 trillion Yuan in 2060. Different fiscal stimulus scenarios have a strong implication on welfares of urban and rural residents, wherein monetary equivalent incentive will reduce urban-rural income gap by up to 718 Yuan/capita in 2060.

Historicizing the carbon forest: colonial residue, scientific forestry and the making of ‘Nigeria’s last rainforest’

ABSTRACT The novelty claims in carbon forestry often obscure the complex histories and the colonial entanglements of carbon forest socioecologies. This paper argues that the conditions of possibility of carbon forestry in ‘Nigeria’s last rainforest’ are tightly linked to the uneven colonial production of forests across Southern Nigeria. Drawing on archival research, ethnographic fieldwork and analysis of program documents and academic literature, the paper unsettles claims of novelty in Nigeria’s carbon forestry by demonstrating the material continuity between colonial forestry and carbon forestry. Focusing on the development of colonial forestry in Southern Nigeria under British colonial rule, the paper traces the coloniality of scientific forestry as a form of environmental rule, and its entanglements with imperial capitalism and presumptions of racial hierarchy. If the success of scientific forestry in Southern Nigeria meant the draining of Nigeria’s forests as timber export, its failure in Cross River paradoxically produced ‘Nigeria’s last rainforest,’ a literal ‘colonial residue’ . In colonial forestry, as in contemporary carbon forestry, a reductionist knowledge of forests, capitalist interests and a racialized global division of labor all interact in consequential ways. The paper concludes that decolonizing Nigeria’s forestry is a precondition for saving its ‘last rainforest.’

Analysis of green total factor productivity in China's forestry industry: Technological, organizational, and environmental framework for sustainable economic development

AbstractAs a green industry, forestry plays a pivotal role in economic and ecological development. Green Total Factor Productivity (GTFP) is a crucial indicator of forestry progress. This paper employs the Non‐Radial Distance Function (NDDF) model to measure forestry GTFP in forestry comprehensively. Additionally, it utilizes fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to explore pathways for enhancing forestry GTFP across technological, organizational, and environmental (TOE) dimensions. The study reveals the following outcomes: Government financial support and six additional antecedent conditions offer three distinct avenues to boost forestry GTFP in forestry. Regional disparities emerge, with technology‐driven pathways predominantly found in eastern provinces, dual‐driven routes centered on average forest land size and forestry carbon sinks (FCS) taking precedence in central provinces, and dual‐driven paths driven by government support and FCS coming to the forefront in western provinces. Under specific circumstances, government financial support and foreign investment exhibit potential interchangeability, facilitating the attainment of elevated forestry GTFP in forestry. However, a constraint arises from operating entities' low average forest land size. Ultimately, this study equips policymakers with a nuanced understanding of the factors shaping forestry GTFP in forestry, enabling them to craft compelling, regionally tailored policies that foster adaptability and contribute to the sustainable development of the forestry sector, recognizing that a one‐size‐fits‐all approach may not be suitable for all regions.

Which Provinces Will Be the Beneficiaries of Forestry Carbon Sink Trade? A Study on the Carbon Intensity–Carbon Sink Assessment Model in China

Carbon emissions pose a significant challenge to sustainable development, particularly for China, which is the world’s largest emerging economy and is under pressure to achieve carbon neutrality and reduce emissions amid escalating human activities. The variation in economic development levels and carbon sequestration capacities among its provinces poses a significant hurdle. However, previous research has not adequately examined this dual discrepancy from the perspective of spatial heterogeneity, resulting in a lack of differentiated management of forest carbon sinks across diverse regions. Therefore, to mitigate this discrepancy, this study presents an assessment methodology that analyzes over 100 types of natural and plantation forests using forest age and biomass expansion factors. This study presents a model that can significantly support the efforts of both China and the whole world to achieve carbon neutrality through the improved management of forest carbon sinks. This approach facilitates the assessment of carbon offsets required to meet reduction targets, the development of a provincial framework for carbon intensity and sequestration, and the exploration of their potential for trading markets. Analysis is conducted using MATLAB. Key achievements of this study include the following: (1) The collection of a comprehensive carbon stock dataset for 50 natural and 57 plantation forest types in 31 provinces from 2009 to 2018, highlighting the significant role of new forests in carbon sequestration. (2) The development of a provincial carbon status scoring system that categorizes provinces as carbon-negative, carbon-balancing, or carbon-positive based on local forest sink data and carbon credit demand. (3) The formulation of the carbon intensity–carbon sink assessment (CISA) model, which suggests that provinces with middle- to upper-middle-level economies may have a prolonged need for carbon sink credits during their peak carbon phase. Furthermore, the results show that carbon trading may benefit Guangxi and Yunnan, but may also bring opportunities and risks to Hunan and Hubei. To address regional imbalances, this study advocates tailored policies: carbon-negative and carbon-balancing provinces should enhance carbon sink management, while carbon-positive provinces must focus on energy structure transformation to achieve sustainable development goals.

Research on the Innovation and Development of the Internet of Things Forestry Carbon Sink Model from the Perspective of Digital Village

The integrated development of forest carbon sinks and the digital economy can enhance both the rural industrial system and the level of economic development, ensuring the construction of digital villages. However, several challenges arise in actual development. The shortage of financial services in rural areas makes it arduous to meet the demand for industrial upgrading. The forestry carbon sink sector of the Internet of Things is in its initial phase and requires further improvement and support. Hence, it is imperative to enhance the appropriate policies and institutional framework to reinforce the construction of digital villages. This involves strengthening the management proficiency of the digital village and improving the financial channels of the Internet of Things forestry carbon sink industry. It is also crucial to guide the development of the rural digital economy industry through proper policy formulation.

Carbon sequestration potential of plantation forests in New Zealand - no single tree species is universally best

BackgroundPlantation forests are a nature-based solution to sequester atmospheric carbon and, therefore, mitigate anthropogenic climate change. The choice of tree species for afforestation is subject to debate within New Zealand. Two key issues are whether to use (1) exotic plantation species versus indigenous forest species and (2) fast growing short-rotation species versus slower growing species. In addition, there is a lack of scientific knowledge about the carbon sequestration capabilities of different plantation tree species, which hinders the choice of species for optimal carbon sequestration. We contribute to this discussion by simulating carbon sequestration of five plantation forest species, Pinus radiata, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Eucalyptus fastigata, Sequoia sempervirens and Podocarpus totara, across three sites and two silvicultural regimes by using the 3-PG an ecophysiological model.ResultsThe model simulations showed that carbon sequestration potential varies among the species, sites and silvicultural regimes. Indigenous Podocarpus totara or exotic Sequoia sempervirens can provide plausible options for long-term carbon sequestration. In contrast, short term rapid carbon sequestration can be obtained by planting exotic Pinus radiata, Pseudotsuga menziesii and Eucalyptus fastigata.ConclusionNo single species was universally better at sequestering carbon on all sites we tested. In general, the results of this study suggest a robust framework for ranking and testing candidate afforestation species with regard to carbon sequestration potential at a given site. Hence, this study could help towards more efficient decision-making for carbon forestry.

Financial Comparison of Continuous-Cover Forestry, Rotational Forest Management and Permanent Carbon Forest Regimes for Redwood within New Zealand

Continuous-cover forestry (CCF), which maintains a relatively intact forest cover through selective harvesting, has emerged over the last few decades as a popular alternative to rotational forest management (RFM). Coast redwood, which is native to the western United States, grows rapidly in New Zealand and is well suited to CCF as it has high shade tolerance, an ability to coppice from the cut stem, and resistance to pests, diseases, wind and fire. A forest estate model was used to compare the carbon sequestration, timber production and profitability of redwood CCF, RFM and permanent carbon forestry (PCF) regimes at a regional level within New Zealand. Through linear programming, this model optimised carbon accumulation and harvesting decisions across a large forest to meet a series of constraints associated with each regime. All three regimes represented good investment decisions, but CCF had the highest soil expectation value (SEV) within most North Island regions while PCF had a slightly higher SEV within the South Island regions. Under the transitional CCF (CCFt), revenue from carbon initially increased before levelling out at 40 years, after which time a sustainable harvest of high-value timber commenced in perpetuity without additional revenue from carbon. The CCFt regime transitioned to a steady-state condition, with a uniform age class distribution from year 150 onwards (CCFs), after which time a very high SEV was attained that exceeded that of CCFt by four-fold in the North Island (NZD 136,126/ha vs. NZD 34,430/ha) and seven-fold (NZD 44,714 vs. NZD 6267/ha) in the South Island. This study highlights the profitability of managing redwood under CCF and how initial carbon revenue can be used to finance the transition of the forest to a steady-state condition that produces a stream of valuable timber with a very high rate of return.

A novel optimization method of carbon reduction strategies implementation for industrial parks

The effects of various energy conservation and carbon reduction (ECCR) strategies can differ significantly despite equal investment. Given limited amount of capital expenditure, managers and planners of industrial parks must carefully select from different ECCR strategies and implementation technologies to maximize investment returns. This study establishes mathematical models for four ECCR strategies: forestry carbon sequestration (FCS), carbon capture and utilization (CCU), waste heat recovery (WHR), and photovoltaic (PV). A universal ECCR planning optimization model is constructed to maximize annual economic benefits or carbon emission reduction. Using an industrial park in southern China as a case study, genetic algorithms are utilized to solve the model and validate its feasibility. The study analyzes three key parameters: capital expenditure caps, carbon trading price in the Emission Trading Scheme, and transportation distance of captured CO2 products for sensitivity. The results demonstrate considerable economic benefits of the CCU strategy when demand matches appropriately. However, in cases with limited capital expenditure, implementing small-scale FCS strategies in industrial parks is not advisable from both an economic and environmental perspective.

Priority change and driving factors in the voluntary carbon offset market

Voluntary carbon offset markets play an important role in climate change mitigation by deploying technologies in order of lowest abatement cost. The objective of this study is to identify the key drivers of changes in the volume of carbon credits issued in voluntary registry offset markets from 2006 to 2020 using a decomposition analysis framework. The results show that the volume of issued carbon credits related to forestry and land use increased from 2006 to 2015 due to priority increases and scale expansions in REDD+ projects. In addition, the reasons for the priority changes in carbon credits issued varied according to the scale of carbon offset programs in each region. The comparison of scale effect and carbon offset program priority is a useful tool for understanding changes in carbon credits issued according to project technology and region. The very rapid increase in forestry carbon credits issued does however pose important policy implications given it has been accompanied by widespread indications of poor governance and questionable outcomes in terms of CO2 reduction. In light of the IPCC's reliance on carbon credits the need for thoroughgoing policy reform is underlined.

Forestry offsets under China’s certificated emission reduction (CCER) for carbon neutrality: regulatory gaps and the ways forward

PurposeAs a typical nature-based solution to climate change, forestry carbon sinks are vital to achieving carbon neutrality in China. However, regulations in China are insufficient to promote the development of carbon offset projects in forestry. This study aims to identify the regulatory obstacles impeding the development of forestry offsets under China’s certified emission reduction (CCER) and explore ways to improve the regulatory system.Design/methodology/approachThis study conducts a qualitative analysis using a normative legal research method. This study conducted a synthetic review of national and local regulatory documents to gain insights into the regulatory landscape of forestry offsets in China. The main contents and characteristics of these documents are illustrated. Furthermore, related secondary literature was reviewed to gain further insight into forestry offset regulations and to identify significant gaps in China’s CCER regulation.FindingsForestry offset regulations under the CCER are characterized by fragmentation and a relatively lower legally binding force. There is no systematic institutional arrangement for forestry offset development, impeding market expectations and increasing transaction costs. The main challenges in China’s regulation of forestry carbon sinks include entitlement ambiguity, complicated rules for registration and verification, a lack of mechanisms for incentives, risk prevention and biodiversity protection.Originality/valueForestry carbon sinks’ multiple environmental and social values necessitate their effective development and utilization. This study assessed forestry offset regulations in China and proposed corresponding institutional arrangements to improve forestry carbon sink regulations under the CCER.

Optimal strategy of forestry carbon sink trading under government subsidy based on stochastic differential game of carbon emission reduction

Optimal strategy of forestry carbon sink trading under government subsidy based on stochastic differential game of carbon emission reduction

Research on the Development Strategies of Forestry Carbon Sink Economy in Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan Province, China: Taking Daofu County as an Example

Research on the Development Strategies of Forestry Carbon Sink Economy in Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan Province, China: Taking Daofu County as an Example

Research on Benefit Attribution of Forestry Carbon Sink under REDD+

Research on Benefit Attribution of Forestry Carbon Sink under REDD+

Research on Option Pricing Strategies for Forestry Carbon Sinks Based on Black-Scholes Modeling-Take Sanming City as an Example

Sanming City, Fujian Province, is known as the green capital of China. This paper focuses on the local forestry carbon sink projects in Sanming City and analyzes their carbon trading prices based on the real option pricing theory and the Black-Scholes model and concludes that the value of the forestry carbon sink projects in Sanming City has been underestimated. This paper seizes the undervalued situation and puts forward certain suggestions for working on projects to develop forestry carbon sink in Sanming, such as increasing the well-being of residents by utilizing forestry carbon sink projects, increasing the number of trading entities in the carbon market, and perfecting the carbon trading market, etc. It also points out that the rationalization of forestry carbon sink products should be carried out reasonably. At the same time, it also points out the significance of reasonable pricing of forestry carbon sink products for the local carbon trading market, which leads to the significance of the rational development of forestry carbon sinks for China’s green development.

Driving factors of tree biomass and soil carbon pool in xerophytic forests of northeastern Argentina

BackgroundThe conversion of forests into agricultural lands can be a threat because the forests carbon stored could be a source of emissions. The capacity to improve the predictions on the consequences of land use change depends on the identification of factors that influence carbon pools. We investigated the key driving factors of tree biomass and soil carbon pools in xerophytic forests in northeastern Argentina. Based on analyses of forest structure variables and abiotic factors (topography and soil properties) from 18 mature forests, we evaluated carbon pools using uni- and multivariate (redundancy analysis) methods.ResultsThe total carbon pool was estimated at 102.4 ± 24.0 Mg ha−1. Soil organic carbon storage is the single largest carbon pool relative to tree biomass, representing 73.1% of total carbon. Tree canopy cover and basal area were positively correlated with biomass carbon pool (r = 0.77 and r = 0.73, p < 0.001, respectively), proving to be significant drivers of carbon storage in this compartment. Slope, soil clay content and cation-exchange capacity had a better explanation for the variability in soil carbon pools, and all showed significant positive correlations with soil carbon pools (r = 0.64, 0.60 and 0.50; p < 0.05, respectively). The vertisols showed a 27.8% higher soil carbon stock than alfisols.ConclusionsThe relevance of our study stems from a dearth of information on carbon pools and their drivers in xerophytic forests, and in particular, the importance of this ecosystems’ type for Argentina, because they cover 81.9% of native forest area. Basal area and tree canopy cover exert a strong effect on the carbon pool in tree biomass but not in the soil. The results suggests that there is a potentially major SOC accumulation in forests located in slightly sloping areas and soils with higher topsoil clay content, such as vertisols. This could provide an important reference for implementing forestry carbon sink projects.

Temporal and Spatial Changes and Trend Predictions of Forest Carbon Sequestration Efficiency in China Based on the Carbon Neutrality Goal

Forestry’s high-quality development is crucial for China’s sustainable ecological, economic, and social progress. To elevate the efficiency of carbon sequestration in forestry, continuously improve the increment of carbon sinks, and contribute to achieving carbon neutrality, it is crucial to accurately assess the level of carbon sequestration efficiency in China’s forestry and explore its long-term evolution trend. In this paper, a super-efficiency SBM model, which combines the SBM model with the super-efficiency method and considers the relaxation variables, was selected to evaluate the forestry carbon sequestration efficiency of 31 provinces in China; likewise, the temporal development features of the efficacy of Chinese forests in sequestering carbon were examined using the nuclear density estimation method. Secondly, the study constructed traditional and spatial Markov probability transfer matrices to further explore the spatiotemporal evolution of carbon sequestration efficiency within Chinese forestry. Finally, combined with the Markov chain infinite distribution matrix, the future trajectory of carbon sequestration efficiency in China’s forestry was scientifically forecasted. The findings indicate that: (1) The average carbon sequestration efficiency of forestry in China showed a stable increase with fluctuations and reached the optimal state in 2018. The carbon sequestration efficiency level of various forest regions was always portrayed as southwest forest region &gt; southern forest region &gt; northeast forest region &gt; northern forest region. From 2003 to 2018, there were significant differences in forestry carbon sequestration efficiency among provinces. The distribution of forestry carbon sequestration efficiency exhibited a “three-pillar” distribution pattern with Xizang, Zhejiang, and Heilongjiang as the core, and the marginal regions continuously promoted the carbon sequestration efficiency to the inland. (2) The type of transfer of forestry carbon sequestration efficiency in China is stable, and it is difficult to achieve cross-stage transfer in the short term. Moreover, the forestry carbon sequestration efficiency of each province tended to converge to a high (low) level over time, showing a “bimodal distribution” of low efficiency and high efficiency, indicating the existence of the obvious “club convergence phenomenon”. (3) Forecasting from a long-term evolution trend perspective, the outlook for the future evolution of forestry carbon sequestration efficiency in China is optimistic, and the overall trend was concentrated in the high-value area. Therefore, future forestry development in China should contemplate both internal structure optimization and coordinated regional development. Attention should be placed on forestry carbon sequestration’s role while considering the distinctive endowments of each region and developing reasonable, differentiated, and collaborative forestry management strategies.

Applying Economic Principles to Improve the Quality of Forestry Carbon Sinks Trading in China

The issue of climate change has been continuously concerned by countries around the globe, and with the signing of a series of documents, such as the Paris Agreement, people are gradually realizing that the climate issue is not just an environmental issue, but is also gradually turning into a new way for developed countries to control the world. The core solution to climate warming is to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the air. Therefore, China's establishment of the carbon peak and carbon neutral targets shows the importance it attaches to the ecological environment, and at the same time, it also demonstrates the style of a great power and its responsibility. One of the ways to achieve the dual-carbon goal is to trade carbon sinks, especially forestry carbon sinks. By applying relevant economic principles such as externalities and the resource curse, raising the awareness of individual consumers about carbon sinks, allowing enterprises to contract their own forests for carbon compensation, and improving the relevant systems for forestry carbon trading, the quality of carbon trading can be improved and the major obstacles it faces can be overcome.

Evolutionary game analysis of forestry carbon sink trading model under blockchain technology

As a new balanced economy, the green economy guides the upgrade and transformation of industrial structures based on the original concept of sustainable development. Reducing carbon emissions is indispensable for achieving better and faster green economic development. From a functional perspective, forestry carbon sinks have good carbon sequestration potential and have positive attributes, such as climate regulation and biodiversity maintenance, for the entire ecosystem. To promote the continuous development of forestry carbon sink trading in China, blockchain, a new technology with several advantages such as traceability, supervision, and tamper-proofness, has emerged, which creates a good market trading environment and has made a breakthrough in the trading mode. If forestry carbon sink trading is effectively supported, organic combinations and simultaneous synergistic development can be conducted, which will open new avenues for the carbon sink economy. In this study, a game model of the forest carbon sink trading mode under blockchain technology was constructed from the perspective of traders, and influential factors, such as the carbon sink available for sale by the supply side and the demand side's perspective towards emission reduction, were considered. Subsequently, the MATLAB R2020b software was used to conduct a simulation analysis of the transactions, thereby showing the evolutionary path of the game between the two sides and the influence mechanism of the addition of blockchain technology on the evolution trajectory of the demand-side decision. The findings indicate that, from the perspective of participating traders, the inclusion of blockchain technology in forestry carbon sink trading resulted in positive effects. Moreover, the greater the probability that the carbon sinks available for sale in the market can meet the demand, the more likely the demand side is to participate in the transaction.

Spatial convergence and differentiation characteristics of ecological efficiency of forestry carbon sink: Evidence from China

Calculating and analyzing ecological efficiency of forestry carbon sink is key to develop China's forestry carbon sink effectively. This paper utilized super-efficiency stochastic frontier model (SBM) to measure ecological efficiency of forestry carbon sink of 30 provinces (municipalities and autonomous regions) in China from 2000 to 2017. In addition, this study calculated and analyzed convergence trend by constructing β convergence model under consideration of spatial conditions. Study results were revealed as follows. Firstly, ecological efficiency of China's forestry carbon sink presented a "double peak" distribution characteristic of a steady rise with fluctuations. However, overall level was not high, and large room still existed for improvement. Secondly, a significant spatial convergence existed in ecological efficiency of forestry carbon sink in China. Spatial factors had an accelerating effect on convergence trend, making spatial differences in ecological efficiency of forestry carbon sink among regions further narrowed over time. Thirdly, five major forest regions possessed significant spatial convergence, and convergence rates were higher than national average level. The southwest forest region had the highest convergence rate, followed by the northeast, south, northwest and the North China forest regions. Spatial convergence speeds of two periods from 2000 to 2010 and 2011 to 2017 were higher than classical convergence speed, and shown a decreasing change process. Due to existing of spatial convergence, different regions should explore value realization mechanism of forestry carbon sink, clarify regional positioning, and formulate measures based on local conditions to develop forestry carbon sink.