Pursuing the goal of carbon neutrality in China: path for realization of carbon sequestration in planted forests

doi:10.15302/J-FASE-2023534

Front. Agr. Sci. Eng.

2024, Vol. 11

Issue (3) : 355-366 https://doi.org/10.15302/J-FASE-2023534

Pursuing the goal of carbon neutrality in China: path for realization of carbon sequestration in planted forests

Lei DENG^1,², Haitao HU³, Jiwei LI^1,², Xue LI^4,⁵, Chunbo HUANG⁶, Zhijing YU², Hailong ZHANG², Qing QU⁵, Xiaozhen WANG¹, Lingbo DONG¹, Zhouping SHANGGUAN^1,⁵(

)

¹. State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
². College of Soil and Water Conservation Science and Engineering (Institute of Soil and Water Conservation), Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
³. Shaanxi Forestry Survey and Planning Institute, Xi’an 710000, China
⁴. College of Landscape Architecture, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
⁵. Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling 712100, China
⁶. Key Laboratory of Regional Ecology and Environmental Change, School of Geography and Information Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China

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Abstract

● Analyzes the current situation of planted forests construction in China.

● Summarizes the dynamic and benefit of C sequestration in plantation forest.

● Proposes the enhancement path of C sequestration for planted forests in China.

● Provides the path for realization of forest C sink trading in China.

● Suggests some insights for C sequestration and emission reduction in planted forests.

Tree plantations are an important forest resource that substantively contributes to climate change mitigation and carbon sequestration. As the area and standing volume of tree plantations in China have increased, issues such as unreasonable structure, low productivity, limited ecological functionality and diminishing ecological stability have occurred, which hinder the ability of tree plantations to enhance carbon sequestration. This study outlined the trajectory of carbon sequestration and its associated benefits in tree plantations by examining the current state of tree plantation establishment and growth, elucidated the strategies for advantages of carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation in planted forests, and summarized the existing problems with tree plantations. This paper underscores the pressing need for concerted efforts to boost carbon sequestration within planted forests and proposes management and development strategies for Chinese tree plantations. In the future, it will be necessary to apply scientific theories to practice and develop multi-objective management optimization models for the high-quality development of tree plantations. This will involve establishing a cohesive national carbon trading market, improving the prediction of carbon sequestration, and identifying priority zones for afforestation and reforestation, to better serve China’s national strategy for achieving peak carbon and carbon neutrality.

Keywords Planted forest carbon stock carbon sequestration carbon management climate change promotion path

Corresponding Author(s): Zhouping SHANGGUAN

Just Accepted Date: 28 December 2023 Online First Date: 24 January 2024 Issue Date: 17 July 2024

Cite this article:

Lei DENG,Haitao HU,Jiwei LI, et al. Pursuing the goal of carbon neutrality in China: path for realization of carbon sequestration in planted forests[J]. Front. Agr. Sci. Eng. , 2024, 11(3): 355-366.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fase/EN/10.15302/J-FASE-2023534
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fase/EN/Y2024/V11/I3/355

Fig.1 Planted forest area and standing stocks (a) as well as the percentage of planted forest area to forest area in China (b) during the previous National Forest Inventories.

Fig.2 Distribution of planted forest area (a) and standing stock (b) by age groups. You, young age group; Mid, middle age group; PreM, near-mature age group; Mat, mature age group; PostM, over-mature age Group.

Tab.1 Logistic equation between biomass C stock and forest age of 36 forest types in China

Tab.2 C sequestration rate of afforestation age groups in pure forests and mixed forests

Fig.3 Path for enhancement of C sequestration for planted forests in China.

Fig.4 Path for realization of forest C sink trading.

Fig.5 Positive and negative forest thinning effects on vegetation and soil. SMC, soil moisture content; ST, soil temperature; SOC, soil organic carbon; DOC, soil dissolved organic carbon; MBC, soil microbial biomass carbon; AGC, aboveground biomass carbon stock of trees; DBH, average diameter at breast height of stand; H, average stand height; UVC, carbon stock of understory vegetation biomass; LBC, carbon stock of litter biomass; and FRC, fine root biomass carbon stock.

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