Carbon storage through China’s planted forest expansion

Kai Cheng, Haitao Yang, Shengli Tao, Yanjun Su, Hongcan Guan, Yu Ren, Tianyu Hu, Wenkai Li, Guangcai Xu, Mengxi Chen, Xiancheng Lu, Zekun Yang, Yanhong Tang, Keping Ma, Jingyun Fang and Qinghua Guo ()
Additional contact information
Kai Cheng: Peking University
Haitao Yang: Peking University
Shengli Tao: Peking University
Yanjun Su: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Hongcan Guan: Hainan University
Yu Ren: Peking University
Tianyu Hu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Wenkai Li: Sun Yat-Sen University
Guangcai Xu: Beijing GreenValleyTechnology Co. Ltd
Mengxi Chen: Peking University
Xiancheng Lu: Peking University
Zekun Yang: Peking University
Yanhong Tang: Peking University
Keping Ma: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Jingyun Fang: Peking University
Qinghua Guo: Peking University

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract China’s extensive planted forests play a crucial role in carbon storage, vital for climate change mitigation. However, the complex spatiotemporal dynamics of China’s planted forest area and its carbon storage remain uncaptured. Here we reveal such changes in China’s planted forests from 1990 to 2020 using satellite and field data. Results show a doubling of planted forest area, a trend that intensified post-2000. These changes lead to China’s planted forest carbon storage increasing from 675.6 ± 12.5 Tg C in 1990 to 1,873.1 ± 16.2 Tg C in 2020, with an average rate of ~ 40 Tg C yr−1. The area expansion of planted forests contributed ~ 53% (637.2 ± 5.4 Tg C) of the total above increased carbon storage in planted forests compared with planted forest growth. This proactive policy-driven expansion of planted forests has catalyzed a swift increase in carbon storage, aligning with China’s Carbon Neutrality Target for 2060.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48546-0

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