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Forestry Actions to Tackle Climate Change and Its Impact on Carbon
Emission and Employment Creation in China☆
KE Shuifa 1, 2, PAN Chenguang 2
1. College of Economics and Management, Beijing Forestry University, P.R. China, 100083
2. Rural Development Institute, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, P.R. China, 100732
[email protected]
Abstract: Currently, climate change, sustainable development and employment problems have been the
focus of world attention. This paper focuses on the forestry actions to climate change and its impact on
employment in China on the basis of the qualitative analysis and case study. Firstly, it introduces the
relationship between Low carbon development and employment; and it elaborates the main forestry
actions framework to tackle climate change in China, i.e. Forestry carbon sinks, Forestry carbon
sequestration and Forestry carbon substitution; it further introduces the main forestry practices, i.e. the
implementation of forestry key project, carbon forestry and energy forestry; then analyzes the impact of
forestry key actions on the employment and takes three Carbon pilot projects as cases study; Finally, it
draws some conclusions and policy implications. Research results show that China’s forestry actions
made positive contributions to tackle climate change through forestry carbon sinks, sequestration and
substitution; it also produced positive influence on employment. Therefore, under the double pressures
of global climate change and economics recession, it has important strategic significance in growing
investment in forestry, vigorously increasing the capacity of forest carbon-sink and promoting forestry
green employment.
Keywords: China, Climate change, Forestry actions, Carbon Emission, Employment, Impact
1 Introduction
1.1 Low carbon development and employment
The low carbon development mode under the background of climate change is catching more and more
attention of the world. As we known, the forest is the main terrestrial ecosystem, is the largest carbon
storage. The pressure from climate change can be a driving force for the forestry development.
The Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) presented information and evidence for climate change. AR4 also pointed out that
opportunity costs would be reduced if earlier action is taken in mitigating the risks of global warming.
The Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change (Stern Nicholas 2007), which issued by UK
Government in October 2006, warned that cost of inaction for climate change would be between 5% and
20% of GDP per year. The Stern Review also points to the need for a transformative increase in the scale
of international finance flows for a low carbon economy.
Low carbon development will have a prominent impact on global employment. As we know, major
measures to tackle climate change include adaptation and mitigation. Low carbon development is
mainly focused on policies and measures for mitigation, including prioritizing economic structure,
deploying of low carbon technology, improving energy efficiency, etc. Low carbon development is a
development path which realizes a low carbon economy through a de-carbonization process, aiming at
sustainable development as well as tackling climate change. In the process of de-carbonization,
employment would be effected in numbers and structure accompanied by changes in industrial impacts
caused by low carbon policies as the phasing out of less efficiency equipment is paired with new
☆ This research supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities（RW2011-11）and
the China Climate Change Partnership Framework MDG-F Programme commissioned by the International Labor
Organization( ILO).
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technologies.
China has paid more attention to low carbon development. Considering the policy would have a
potential impact on China’s employment in different sectors, the research will focus on the relationship
between forestry actions and employment promotion in China.
1.2 Related studies on forestry and employment
Studies on forest carbon sinks could date back to the mid- and late-1960s (such as the International
Conference on the Unity of the Sciences, International Biological Program 1 ), when international
researchers in the realm of natural science developed their initial ideas on the subject. Since the 1990s,
in response to the call of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
and Kyoto Protocol (KP) for great efforts to combat climate change, forestry for carbon-sink purposes
has become an integral part of the Clean Development Mechanism, and has received increasing
attention in the international community.
The forestry actions in china have an inevitable effect on the forestry employment. Three are some
experts such as Fang Jingyun (1996), Pan Jiahua (2001), Wei Diansheng (2003), Li Shunlong(2005),
Zhang Shengdong(005), Li Nuyun(2007), Lin Delong(2005), Zhang Kun(2007), did some research on
the climate change and forestry actions. On the other hand, Another some experts such as Pan
Chenguan(1999), Wang Zhixin(1999), Feng Jiaping (2002), Wu Youliang (2002), Lou Dianjie (2005),
Wei Xiaohui (2005), Yang Suhua (2007),who already did some study on forestry employment.
Currently, researchers in other countries have focused their work primarily on topics such as the relation
between forestry and climate change, climate change and carbon-sink forestry, the impact of climate
change on forests and ecosystems, and research on forest carbon sinks capacity (Roger et al. 1997,
Rodel et al. 1998, Olschewski, Beitez 2005, Olschewski et al.2005, De Koning et al.2005, Peter et
al.2007, Charlotte Streck et al.2008, Olschewski Beitez 2009).
The literatures review showed that not much research has been published on employment under the
background of climate change and low-carbon development in China. As global warming and the global
financial crisis since last year, conducting research to reveal the correlation between carbon-sink forestry
and employment becomes all the more imperative. On the other hand, achievements made by previous
studies on carbon-sink and the employment in forestry also laid a solid foundation for future work.
1.3 Research methods and information sources
Our research adopts qualitative analysis and case study based on the literature and historical data.The
sources of data and material are mainly forestry statistic yearbooks, forestry development reports,
related forestry websites, etc. Meanwhile, some ideas in this paper are from interviews with relevant
departments of the National Forestry Administration, such as the Aforestation Department, Budget
Department, Personnel Department, Forestation Committee, General Office of Forestry Work
Administration, Propaganda Office of Forestry Bureau, and some Forest Major Project Management
Office.
2 Main Policy Framework of Forestry Actions to Tackle Climate Change
There are three main ways for forestry to deal with climate change: carbon sinks., carbon storage and
carbon substitution (see Figure 1).Since 1980s, forest planting has achieved great success with the
implementation of national key Forestry Ecological Programme. “The National Climate Change
Programme”(2007),points out that the cumulative net sequestration of China’s Afforestation is 3.06
billion tons of carbon dioxide, 1.62 billion tons carbon emission reduction from forestry management,
1
The International Biological Program was organized under the leadership of C. H. Waddington beginning in 1962
and officially started in 1964, with the goal of exploring "The Biological Basis of Productivity and Human Welfare".
This was considered as the beginning of the study on the carbon sink of the Terrestrial ecosystems.
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0.43 billion tons by reducing forestry destroy.
Afforestation
Forestry
carbon
sinks
Afforestation for forestry key
programs
low
production
forest improvement
Agro-forestry
system
Afforestation for carbon sinks
projects
Urban Afforestation
greening
and
Sustainable forest
management
Other afforestation activity
Reducing
Deforestation
Main
and
disafforestation
Forest ecological system
protection
Protecting
ecological system
Wetland protection
Improving
wood
cutting process
Other protection activities
policy
framework
for
forestry
to
Forestry
carbon
storage
tackle
Enhancing
wood
utilization efficiency
climate
Controlling
forest
diseases and pests
change
Industry substitution
Forestry
carbon
substitution
Raw materials
substitution
Energy cropping &
substitution
Figure1 Framework of Forestry Action to Tackle Climate Change
2.1 Forestry carbon sinks
Forestry carbon sinks action, also known as Carbon Forestry(Liu Shirong,2005), aims to play the full
role of forest as carbon capture, to lower the carbon dioxide concentration in atmosphere, and to
mitigate climate change. Forestry carbon sinks increasing action includes all kinds of measures to
increase land vegetation cover and oil carbon storage, such as afforestation, reforestation, the restoration
of degraded ecological system, the construction of agroforestry system and the intensification of forestry
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sustainable management to improve the forest productivity. As the cost of carbon dioxide absorption and
fixation by the measures of plantation and forest protection is much lower than the cost of industrial
emission reduction, forestry action becomes one of the most economical and effective measures to
reduce atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gas.
2.2 Forestry carbon storage
Forestry carbon storage action is to preserve and maintain present carbon stored in forest ecological
system so as to prevent carbon emission. With the forest sustainable management, a series of carbon
management measures are adopted to reduce carbon emission and increase carbon storage capacity,
including ecological conservation, reducing desforestation, improving woods operation measures,
enhancing wood utilization efficiency, and effectively controlling forest disasters (such as forest fires,
plant diseases and insect pests) to reduce the emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation.
2.3 Forestry carbon substitution
The action develops the rising low-carbon industry instead of traditional high-carbon forestry industry,
develops durable wood products instead of energy-intensive materials, and uses renewable wood fuel
(like forest biofuel forest) and logging residue. It includes: (1) Industry substitution: in order to reduce
carbon emission, such as forest cultivation, maintenance industry, eco-tourism and bio-industry. (2)
Energy substitution: namely forest bio-energy or forestry energy cropping, aims to substitute fossil
energy for biomass energy. Forest biomass is not only the fuel of rural areas but also the material for
generating electricity, which has huge potential for reducing emissions. (3) Raw material substitution:
Energy-intensive materials (such as iron, cement, aluminium product, plastic, and tile) can be substituted
by durable wood products, so as to increase land carbon storage and decrease the greenhouse gas
emission produced by burning fossil fuel in the course of energy-intensive material production.
3 Chinese Forestry Practices and It’s Contribution to Tackle Climate Change
3.1 Launch and implement key forestry programs
Table 1 The Afforestation Area in Key Forestry Programs in 2001-2009 (unit: 1 000 hectares)
Total
Natural Forest
Conversion of
Sandification
Key
Forest
Protection
Cropland to
Control
Shelterbelt
Industrial
Program
Forest Program
Program
Development
Base
(NFPP)
(CCFP)
(SCP)
Program
Development
(KSDP)
Program
(FIBDP)
2001
3160.2
948.1
871.0
217.3
1034.9
88.9
2002
6777.4
856.1
4423.6
676.4
775.6
45.7
Year
2003
8262.8
688.3
6196.1
824.4
533.5
20.4
2004
4802.9
641.5
3217.5
473.3
448.3
22.3
2005
3109.1
424.8
1898.4
408.3
368.2
9.5
2006
2810.8
774.8
1050.5
409.5
566.8
9.1
2007
2681.7
732.9
1056.0
315.1
574.2
3.4
2008
3438.5
1008.9
1189.7
469.1
765.7
5.3
2009
4596.3
1360.9
886.7
434.8
1893.1
20.8
2001-2009
39639.7
7436.3
20789.5
Source: State Forestry Administration in China (SFA), 2000-2009
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4228.2
6960.5
225.3
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Launching forestry key projects are both the strategic content of forestry sustainable development and
Chinese positive action to deal with the challenge of global warming. At present China has carried out
six forestry key programs with the widest range and the biggest scale in the history. The Forestry
Ecological Program has planned the afforestation task of more than 7.34 million hectares, covering 97%
of national county towns. The finished afforestation of major projects in 2001~2009 see Table1.
3.2 Implement forestry carbon sinks project
In terms of Tokyo Protocol ratified in 1997, the promised goal of reducing and limiting greenhouse gas
emission can be offset by the carbon dioxide absorbed by afforestation, reforestation and forest
management since 1990; at the same time, in the Clean Development Mechanism, developed countries
are allowed to offset their promised goal of reducing and limiting emission through gaining carbon sinks
from external forestry projects of developing countries (SFA, 2008). It is estimated that the greatest
potential of carbon sinks in 2000~2005 is 1.53~2.47 billion tons carbon per year, of which is 28%
afforestation, 14% reforestation, and 7% agro-forestry (SFA, 2008). Forestry activities have become one
of the most economical and effective measures for most countries to mitigate climate change. Generally
speaking, afforestation under CDM refers to the plantation on land which hasn’t grown forest for past 50
years2. State Forestry Administration in China has brought forestry carbon sequestration into the general
strategy of national forestry development, and launched the projects of carbon sinks of afforestation and
reforestation. Although not all the afforestation activities can be brought into CERs (Carbon Emissions
Rights) benefits from CDM, the potential international carbon market provides good opportunity for the
development of Chinese carbon sequestration industry.
The forestry carbon sinks activities include both CDM carbon sinks afforestation projects and non-CDM
projects with the target of carbon sinks afforestation. Forestry Carbon sinks projects in China not only a
good approach to raise international investment for planting trees but also driving the employment
related to afforestation.
3.3 Develop energy forestry
Developing biomass energy is an important measure to carry out energy diversified strategy in China
which actively deals with climate change. The main way to develop forestry biomass energy is to
explore the marginal land like Waste Mountain, bare land, the saline land not suitable for farming for
reclamation and Afforestation. Chinese forestry biomass energy is abundant, and the potential is very
huge. The biomass provided by present forest in China has 300 million tons, equal to 200 million tons of
standard coal, which means 1/10 of fossil energy consumption would be reduced annually. According to
“National Energy Forest Plan” issued by SFA, China will build more than 0.667 million hectares of pilot
energy forest projects during the period of the 11th Five-Year Plan; energy forest will reach 13.34
million hectares till 2020, which can provide more than 6 million tons of biodiesel to meet the fuel need
of power station with 11 million kilowatt installed capacity (SFA, 2008).
3.4 The contribution of Chinese forestry action to low-carbon development
Forestry has quite positive effects on the execution of Chinese low-carbon development. Carrying out
forestry action, such as afforestation, reforestation, forest management, wetland protection, and fossil
energy substitution, can not only effectively absorb carbon dioxide and mitigate greenhouse effect but
also increase jobs (Jia Zhibang, 2007).
According to the estimation of State Forestry Administration in China, the potential of Chinese forestry
to absorb carbon dioxide equivalent is huge, including: (1) to enlarge the afforestation area would
2
UNFCCC (2001) the Marrakesh Accord defines afforestation as “the direct human activity of establishing a forest
on land that has not been a forest for at least past 50 years by artificially planting trees, their seeds or artificially
promoting natural seminationsowing”(UNFCCC, 2001). Reaffoestation refers to the direct human activity of
turning a land which once was a forest but changed into non-forest into forest by transplanting, sowing or
artificially promoting natural seminationsowing.
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increase forest carbon storage capacity. There are 57 million hectares of non-forest land, 264 million
hectares of desertified land and 174 million hectares of sand land. If all the non-forest lands are planted
and 30% of desertified and sand lands are building into shrubbery, the potential sequestration would be
1.23 billion tons of carbon equivalents. (2) To strengthen forest management would increase the forest
annual yield about 500 million cubic meters and improve carbon sequestration ability 1.086 billion tons
per year. (3) To afforest on mature and over-mature forest logging areas would expand forest carbon
storage capacity to 57 million tons of carbon fixation per year. (4) To strengthen the restoration and
management of wetland would increase its carbon storage capacity. There are 338.4855 million hectares
of wetland now in China, about 40% of which has been brought into conservation districts. If 30% of the
10 million hectares of cultivated wetlands are restored, 28 million tons of carbon dioxide can be fixed
per year. (5) To substitute the energy-intensive raw material like iron and cement for renewable forest
wood product would reduce carbon dioxide emission about 1.1 billion tons(Jia Zhibang,2007).
Therefore, the potential of forestry carbon capture and storage ability would be over 3 billions tons per
yea. It means that Chinese forestry will devote to reduce the emission of over 1.5 billions tons of the
Carbon dioxide equivalent if we make true the half of the potential per year (Jia Zhibang, 2007).
4 The Impact of Forestry Actions on Carbon Emission and Employment
4.1 Climate change impacts on forestry development and employment
According to “China's National Climate Change Programme” (2007), the future climate change will
effect on Chinese forest ecological system in following respects. Firstly, the distribution of forest types
will move northwards. All types of forestry distributed from south to north will impel northwards.
Secondly, the forestry productivity and output will increase in various degrees. The forestry productivity
will increase 1% ~2% in tropical and subtropical regions, about 2% in warm temperate zone, 5%~6% in
temperate zone, and 10% in cool temperate zone. Thirdly, the frequency and the intensity of forest fire
and plant diseases will possibly rise.
The impacts of climate change on Chinese forest resource will also affect the development of forestry
industry, and consequently will have corresponding effects on forestry employment. The positive
impacts include: (1) in order to mitigate global warming, Chinese government increases the investment
in the field of forestry, launches relevant projects of forestry ecological system construction, which have
spurred the forestry employment and consequently boosted the shift of labor force and the upgrade of
employment structure. (2) New low-carbon industries comes into being, such as carbon sequestration
industry, biomass energy forestry, forest products industry, eco-tourism, forest sustainable management,
and so on. These industries extend the forestry industrial chain and create some new employment
opportunities, which will absorb large amounts of labor forces.
The negative impacts include: (1) climate change and low-carbon development mode restricts the
development of wood logging and processing industry and many workers of forest products processing
have to be laid off. (2) Forestry employment is also negatively affected by some natural disasters caused
by climate change, such as plant diseases, insect pests and extreme weather disasters, and the impacts of
climate change on the distribution of forest types and forestry management.
4.2 Forestry industry development, carbon emission and employment
Forestry industry itself is a complete industry chain, including not only the primary industry but also the
secondary industry and tertiary industry. The development of forestry industry includes not only
forestation, forest management, wood production and processing but also forest chemical, forestry
machinery manufacturing, forest tourism, forest foods, forest medicine herb, non-wood forest, flowers
and bamboo industry etc. The employment capacity of different industries poses different impact on
climate change. By expert judgment, Table 2 makes a description on the carbon emission and
employment capacity of various forestry industries from the viewpoint of traditional forestry industries
and newly emerging forestry industries. Through analysis, we may find that the development of forestry
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industry is not only favorable for slowing down the process of climate change or adapting to climate
change, but also able to create large amount of green employment positions. It is favorable for
promoting the transition of low carbon employment to actively develop processing and manufacturing
industries, forest by-product industry, and eco-tourism and so on.
Table2 Carbon emission of forestry industry and its capacity of creating job opportunities
Variety of industries
Carbon emission
Contribution Opportunities
to climate
of job creation
change
Traditional Forest
Forest cultivation
Increasing carbon sinks Positive
Strong
Forestry
cultivation,
Forest plantation
Increasing carbon sinks Positive
Strong
Industries
plantation and
Strong
Forest
Increasing carbon sinks Positive
conservation
conservation
Forest
Forest harvesting
Carbon emission
Negative
Weak
harvesting and
Forest
Carbon emission
Negative
Weak
transp.
transportation
Processing and manufacturing of Carbon emission
Negative
Medium
forest
product
Plantation and gathering of non- Increasing carbon sinks Positive
Strong
timber forest
product
Flower industry
Increasing carbon sinks Positive
Strong
Bamboo industry
Increasing carbon sinks Positive
Strong
Newly
Emerging
Forestry
Industries
Forest
tourism,
forest leisure
and
forest culture
Forestry tourism
industry
Forestry leisure
Industry
Forestry culture
industry
Non-wood product industry
Forest
Forest
carbon
ecological
trade service
service
Forest
hydrological
service
Biodiversity
protection
Other
forest
ecological service
Forest
bio- Bio-energy
industry
resources
Bio-material
Biopharmaceutical
industry
Green chemicals
Green food
Low carbon emission
Neutral
Strong
Low carbon emission
Neutral
Medium
Low carbon emission
Neutral
Medium
Low carbon emission
Increasing carbon sinks
Neutral
Positive
Strong
Medium
Increasing carbon sinks
Positive
Medium
Carbon sequestration
Positive
Medium
Increasing carbon sinks
Positive
Medium
Carbon substitution
Positive
Strong
Carbon substitution
Positive
Strong
Carbon substitution
Positive
Strong
Carbon substitution
Carbon substitution
Positive
Positive
Strong
Strong
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4.3 Effects of priority forestry actions on employment
There are two basic approaches for human beings to deal with climate change a: one is to enhance the
adaptive ability for climate change; the other is to mitigate climate change. In terms of the latter, the
crucial practice is to reduce the accumulation of greenhouse gases in atmosphere. The specific methods
are to decrease the emission (sources) of greenhouse gases and to increase it’s the carbon sinks from
forestry by reducing Fossil fuel based energy consumption and improving energy efficiency.
Forests and all vegetation play an important role in reducing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
because trees and other plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air. When a forest is increasing in size it
absorbs C02 as part of the process of increasing its biomass and is referred to as a carbon "sink". Once
the forest reaches maturity the carbon density remains approximately constant. This is called a carbon
"reservoir". Therefore, maintenance of existing biomass stocks (e.g. forests and forest products) is a key
to avoiding further emissions of greenhouse gases.
Possible effects that Chinese forestry activities have on employment are shown as Table3. Altogether
main forestry activities dealing with climate change can have a significant positive impact on
employment.
Activities
Forestry
action to
mitigate
climate
change
Table 3 Effects of forestry actions on employment
Positive effects
Negative effects
Carbon
sinks
afforestation
CDM
and non-CDM Carbon
sinks afforestation
Forestry
biomass
energy
（
）
Key
forestry
projects
Natural
Forest
Protection
Program
Conversion
of Cropland
to Forest
Program
Sandification
Control
Program
Key
Shelterbelt
Development
Program
Expanding
new
opportunities directly.
job
Complex
effects
None
Positive
Creating new
green
job
opportunities, promoting the
transformation
of
some
traditional
energy
industry
workers to new energy industry.
Increasing
employment
in
managing
and
protecting
forestry
Partly substitute
the
partial
employment in
traditional
energy industry
Decrease
forestry workers
Positive
effect on the
whole
Increasing
employees
in
afforestation
and
forest
management; promoting the
transformation of rural surplus
labor force and upgrading
employment
Project investment creates lots
of new green jobs directly
The number of
workers
in
cereals planting
will be reduced
to some extent
in the short term
Promoting the
livestock
industry-related
employment in
the short term
None
Neutral
Project investment creates lots
of
new green jobs in
afforestation
and
forest
management directly
46
Neutral
Positive
effects on the
whole
Positive
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Activities
Forestry
actions
to adapt
climate
change
Positive effects
Negative effects
Complex
effects
Nature
reserves
constructing
and
managing
Program
Project investment creates lots
of new green jobs directly
Influencing jobs
engaging in the
use of resources
in surrounding
communities to
some extent
Positive
effect on the
whole
Wetland
constructing
and
managing
project
Project investment creates lots
of new green jobs directly
Positive
effect on the
whole
Forest
Industrial
Base
Development
Program
Project investment creates lots
of new jobs directly
Influencing
number
affected
employees
the
use
resources in
short term
None
ecosystem
Creating some jobs relating to
forest protection
Adapting
forest
industry development
Creating some new green jobs
directly
Forest
protection
the
of
in
of
the
Influencing
partial
employment
relating
to
resource
utilization
to
some extent
Reducing some
non-adapting
industry
development
workers
Positive
effect on the
whole
Neutral
Positive
effect on the
whole
4.4 Cases study: carbon sinks projects and its’ contribution to employment
From 2004, Carbon Sinks Office of China’s State Forestry Administration started the Forestry Carbon
Sinks pilot program in Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Yunnan, Sichuan, Shanxi and Liaoning(Li
Nuyun,2007), among which CDM projects in Kyoto Protocol is applied in Guangxi and Inner Mongolia.
4.4.1 Carbon sinks pilot projects in Guangxi
The program in Guangxi started in April, 2004, with the full name Guangxi Forestry Catchment
Administration Program in Pearl River Delta Area. According to the program, a multipurpose plantation
of 4,000 hectares would be built in Cenxi City, Guangxi, with the investment of 3 million dollars. In the
program, the sum of around 2 million dollars is invested by the Carbon Trust of World Bank on its
Carbon Sinks Sub-project. It aims to promote the sustainable development of forestry and improve the
ecological environment of Pearl River Delta Area through Afforestation, watershed management
(including Afforestation activity) and biodiversity conservation.
The implementation of the program includes construction period and administration period. The
construction period is from 2006 to 2009. The forestation can be implemented in 2 years, after which the
land should be fostered for 3 years. The administration period is from 2009 to 2037, which includes
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forest pest control, fire prevention, forest protection, fostering and logging, regeneration, management,
monitoring of emission reductions and others. It is expected that 5000 beneficial farmers will implement
the program and about 21.1 million USD income increased for Guangxi farmers, with 5 million
temporary employment created, most of which jobs is for planting, weeding and rosin collecting. And 40
positions of formal jobs can be created in the CERs counting period. It’s estimated that for temporary
labors the income will be 3 dollars each working day, and for formal job workers the income will be 900
dollars one year. All the employment opportunities are offered to the local minority, for who live in the
program area in Zhujiang County (Guangxi Forestry Bureau.2006).
4.4.2 Carbon sinks projects in Inner Mongolia
“Forestation and Desert Prevention Program for the Young in Ao Han Banner in Northeastern China” is
an initiative jointly carried out by State Forestry Administration and Italian Ministry for Environment,
Land and Sea in 2005, in which the two parties agreed to invest 1.53 million USD in five years to
afforest 3,000 hectares of land in Inner Mongolia. 2500 local farmers may expect gains from the
program. Of this population, 2311 people, including a majority of women, are considered as the direct
beneficiaries of the program and are expected to participate all the way in this 5-year program
(http://www.fcarbonsinks.gov.cn/thxm/index.aspx). The other participants will also receive training on
environment protection, plantation, forest administration and carbon-sink expertise. The program may
also draw volunteers, including many young and women, from the urban areas, and is expected to create
employment opportunities and increase revenue for local residents.
4.4.3 Carbon sinks project in Shanxi Province
Initiated in October, 2004, the forestation program in Shi Bi Mountain in Shanxi province is the first
carbon-sink forestry project carried out by volunteers in the private sector in China. It was developed
independently by Taiyuan Renlong Corporate Development Group Co. Ltd, a private enterprise
specializing in developing industrialized bio-technologies in agriculture and forestry. The program aims
to restore the ecosystem in wasted farmlands, barren mountains and sandstone areas, and is expected to
absorb 1.53 million tons of carbon dioxide within the next four decades. The total investment is
estimated at 8.9 million USD, with its benefits extending to over 700 rural households.
The program will help improve the life quality of over 700 rural households, provide 2751 temporary
and 70 permanent jobs for local residents, with its benefits shared by 3,500 farmers in 11 villages
(http://www.fcarbonsinks.gov.cn/thxm/index.aspx). Moreover, by promoting awareness of preserving
culture relics and protecting ecosystem, the programs will boost tourism in the local area and is
conductive in creating jobs in tourism related sectors.
5 Conclusions and Policy Implications
5.1 Conclusions
We can draw the following conclusions from the above whole research:
(1) Forestry plays an important role in dealing with the climate change. Forest plants have a unique
function of carbon sinks by absorbing and fixing carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, which plays an
important role in stabilizing the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases. Forestry activities have
already become one of the most cost-effective and efficient measures in international efforts to
greenhouse gas emission limitation and reduction.
(2) Forestry contributes actively in mitigating global climate change. Through three main approaches
such as carbon sinks, carbon sequestration and carbon substitution, forestry plays a positive and
tremendous role in mitigating and adapting the global climate change.
(3) Forestry actions to deal with climate change produce a positive effect on employment. Such as the
implementations of forestry key project, carbon forestry and energy forestry have a positive impact on
employment.
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5.2 Policy implications
Currently, world’s forestry still has enormous room for growth. Through promulgating correlated,
invigorative, and supportive policies by the state, the development of forestry can be greatly accelerated
and more environmentally friendly green jobs can be created. A sustainable green investment on forestry
will continue to make a sustained contribution to the adaptation and slow down of the global climate
change on the one hand, and also help to ease the employment pressure in the world on the other hand.
Therefore, under the background of the economics recession, increasing green investment on forestry
could be an important strategy not only for China but also the other countries with the similar context.
China and the other countries should further encourage and accelerate the forestry development,
strengthen the international exchange and cooperation, and expand employment capacity in forestry
sector to cope with the dual challenges from the global climate change and economics recession.
Acknowledgement:
The authors sincerely thank Pan Jiahua, Zheng Yan, Zhang Ying, Wang Cuihuai, Liu Jianjie, Yu
Baichuan for providing their guidance, comments and suggestions for this research. The authors would
like to thank the International Labor Organization and Research Center for Urban Development and
Environment at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences for offering the financial support for this research.
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