Forestry solutions for mitigating climate change in China

  • Guanglei Gao College of Soil & Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University.
  • Guodong Ding College of Soil & Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University.
  • Yuanyuan Zhao College of Soil & Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University.
  • Yanfeng Bao College of Soil & Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University.
  • Minghan Yu College of Soil & Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University.

Abstract

Aim of study: Forests have vital functions in global carbon cycle, and thus are of prime importance in efforts to curb climate change. This study intends to guide effective forestry solutions to combat climate change in China.
Area of study: China, not only a major emitter of greenhouse gases, but also one of the five most-forest richest countries with the largest plantations in the world.
Material and methods: We summarize and recommend carbon sequestration forestry by considering two Kyoto Protocol activities: afforestation/reforestation and forest management.
Main results: Afforestation has a top priority of carbon sequestration forestry in China. However, the tree-based solution will reach its limits to growth in a predictable near future. Forest management contributes to break the deadlock. When scientifically and sustainably managed, forests still have a central role in climate change mitigation.
Research highlights: China’s efforts on carbon sequestration forestry should shift the focus from afforestation to forest management.

Key words: climate change; carbon sequestration forestry; afforestation; forest management.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Bouwer LM, Aerts J, 2006. Financing climate change adaption. Disaster 30: 49-63. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9523.2006.00306.x

David GS, Jiang K, Hu X, Jonathan ES, Zhang X, Xu D, Mark ZJ, James EH, 2001. Recent reductions in China's greenhouse gas emissions. Science 294: 1835-1837. http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1065226

Gao GL, Ding GD, Wang HY, Zang YT, Liang WJ, 2011. China needs forest management rather than reforestation for carbon sequestration. Environ. Sci. Technol. 45: 10292-10293. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es203897f

Gao GL, Ding GD, Wang HY, Zang YT, Zhang JY, Liang WJ, 2012. Environmental restoration efforts should not make residents struggle for survival. Environ. Sci. Technol. 46: 3054-3055. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es300723h

Gao G, Ding G, Wang H, Zang Y, Liang W, An Y, He Y, 2013. Short communication. Restoring monoculture plantation using stand spatial structure analysis. Forest Syst. 22: 147-151. http://dx.doi.org/10.5424/fs/2013221-03294

Helmer M and Hilhorst D, 2006. Natural disasters and climate change. Disasters 30: 1-4. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9523.2006.00302.x

IPCC, 2008. Climate change 2007: synthesis report. Geneva, Switzerland. 52 pp.

Mideksa TK, 2010. Economic and distributional impacts of climate change: The case of Ethiopia. Global Environ. Change 20: 278-286. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2009.11.007

Minx JC, Baiocchi G, Peters GP, Weber CL, Guan DB, Hubacek K, 2011. A "carbonizing dragon": China's fast growing CO2 emissions revisited. Environ. Sci. Technol. 45: 9144-9153. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es201497m

Piao S, Fang J, Ciais P, Peylin P, Huang Y, Sitch S, Wang T, 2009. The carbon balance of terrestrial ecosystems in China. Nature 458: 1009-1013. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature07944

Piao S, Ciais P, Huang Y, Shen Z, Peng S, Li J, Zhou L, Liu H, Ma Y, Ding Y, Friedlingstein P, Liu C, Tan K, Yu Y, Zhang T, Fang J, 2010. The impacts of climate change on water resources and agriculture in China. Nature 467: 43-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature09364

Robert WM, Patrick H, Steve B, Douglas C, Fred D, Christopher G, Edmund G, John AH, Nathan M, Michael M, Steve R, Matthew S, John S, 2008. Forest management solutions for mitigating climate change in the United States. J. Forest. 106: 115-173.

Shao G. F, Dai LM, Duke, JS, Jackson RB, Tang LN, Zhao JZ, 2011. Increasing forest carbon sequestration through cooperation and shared strategies between China and the United States. Environ. Sci. Technol. 45: 2033-2034. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es200147k

Walther G, Post E, Convey P, Menzel A, Parmesan C, Beebee T, Fromentin J, Hoegh-Guldberg O, Bairlein F, 2002. Ecological responses to recent climate change. Nature 416: 389-395. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/416389a

Wang Y, Cao S, 2011. Carbon Sequestration May Have Negative Impacts on Ecosystem Health. Environ. Sci. Technol. 45: 1759-1760. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es200042s

Yin R, Sedjo R, Liu P, 2010. The potential and challenges of sequestering carbon and generating other services in China's forest ecosystems. Environ. Sci. Technol. 44: 5687-5688. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es1015636

Published
2014-03-31
How to Cite
Gao, G., Ding, G., Zhao, Y., Bao, Y., & Yu, M. (2014). Forestry solutions for mitigating climate change in China. Forest Systems, 23(1), 183-186. https://doi.org/10.5424/fs/2014231-04705
Section
Short communications