Download A Consideration About the Low-carbon Economy and Forestry Development

EASTERN ACADEMIC FORUM
A Consideration About the Low-carbon Economy and Forestry
Development
YANG Penghui, YANG Enrang
1. Baoji Forestry Bureau
2. Academy of Baoji Forestry
Abstract: The forest carbon sink was a vital aspect of low-carbon economy, and the function of carbon
sequestration could be used as one efficient method to develop low-carbon economy, which had more
advantages than industrial emission reduction just like what the researches showed. This article
presented some thoughts concerned on the relation between the low-carbon economy and forestry,
including the meanings, effects, methods and the key measurements of developing forestry.
Keywords: low-carbon economy, development, forestry
1 Introduction
The low-carbon economy is such an economy form that can lead to the “win-win” of economy, society
and environment with the reduction of greenhouse gases emission through technological innovation and
exploitation of new energy. And the concept of low carbon was presented under the ground of global
climate change and appeal to world-widely reducing emission of greenhouse gases. According to the
idea of substantial development, it is vital to develop low-carbon economy. Since forestry plays an
important role in development of this economy form, it is very essential to figure out the meaning of
forestry development and the methods that can be taken in order to make forestry development meet the
demands of low-carbon economy.
2 The Meaning of Forestry in Low-carbon Economy
As previously described, low-carbon economy is one kind of economic form with the goal of reducing
oil and coal consumption and emission of greenhouse gases, and making economy, society and
environment benefit each other. In order to make these goals come true, forestry has become one of the
focuses in global climate change conference, and was regarded as important role in ecological
construction and climate change mitigation, which are result of irreplaceable role in absorbing and
storing carbon dioxide. Moreover, forestry is material carrier accompanied by agriculture civilization,
industry civilization and information civilization, which can proceed on ecology civilization, and
shoulder burden to protect ecosystem and support development. With cognition of nature and society,
the knowledge of revolution of the economic form, and the understanding of human survive,
development and environment, the attention on potential function of forestry will be improved
world-widely. Therefore, forestry will be together with economy and society development in every
country, be linked to global environment and development, and be related to climate change mitigation
and human existence. It will have an influence not only on the harmony between human beings and
nature, world strategy, and peace of one nation, but also on people’s everyday life. Compared to
reductions in industrial emissions, forestry owns the greater advantages.
2.1 Forestry development can obtain the “mitigation using addition methods”
Energy saving and emission reduction is a precondition for low-carbon economy. And according to
Kyoto protocol, there are two methods here, the first is to reduce industrial emissions, which can slash
emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide through cutting down production and conducting a
series of technological transformations. And the second is to take full use of forest and to reduce carbon
in the atmosphere indirectly. While the former one needs a high investment and costs much, what’s
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worst, it can inevitably bring some side effects to economy, the latter one just needs a low investment,
and can have comprehensive benefits. So the second method can achieve the goal of reducing emission
without hinder economy development. As we all know, forest is a carbon tank which store carbon in
solid state, making itself essential carrier of global carbon cycle, the biggest “carbon storage tank” and
the most economical “carbon collector”. The evidence also shows that forest can store and absorb about
90% of global carbon flow in atmosphere and terrene surface. Hence, accelerating forestry development
and increasing forest carbon amount has turned out to be one strategic measure to improve the potential
of economy and society development and to gain broader space for development.
2.2 Forestry development can strengthen low-carbon industry
The primary, secondary and tertiary on the basis of forest resource are all green low-carbon industry.
The primary industry can enlarge forest area, and improve forest quality through cultivating forest, as a
result, forest can store as much carbon as possible. The secondary industry which aims at increasing the
amounts of usable wood and prolonging their usage age with wood processing can enhance the ratio of
carbon storage in the wood products. The tertiary industry, especially forest tourism, can supply more
employment and bring out higher GDP without more carbon emission.
2.3 Forestry development can do good to alternative energy exploitation
Forest is the forth strategic resource only to coal, oil and natural gas. What’s more, it is renewable and
degradable, which makes itself very important in the transformation of energy consumption structure.
And there is an apparent trend for all the countries to exploit biological energy. Based on our national
situation on the aspects of forest resources and potential forest land, there is strong basic guarantee and
enough space to develop alternative energy.
2.4 Forestry development can help people own a low-carbon lifestyle
Utilizing energy and resources efficiently and decreasing personal carbon footprint are main parts in
low-carbon lifestyle. Due to pollution and low amounts of air negative ion during urbanization, people
are screaming for return to the nature, so the forest tourism turns out to be the best choice for people’s
holiday and entertainment.
3 The Effects that Forestry Has on Low-carbon Economy
The forestry development plays a vital part in low-carbon economy. First, this can promote the
ecological civilization, rather than the function of forest ecosystem. Because it was in forest that human
beings start their evolution, to human, forest is their hometown, and there lies their roots. All the human
beings don’t forget their home, but on the contrary, they find it necessary to rebuild this home and take
their responsibility for developing ecological civilization, dedicating themselves to the ecological
construction which can help people own the sense of belonging, and the idea of harmony between
human and nature. Second, as mentioned above, forestry is irreplaceable in the face of global climate
change. Considering the effects on carbon storage and high output input ratio, UN has established
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and Chinese government regards forestry as
one important part in a series of action plan. Furthermore, China can fulfill the task of emission
reduction by means of carbon trading, for example, the developed countries often purchase carbon from
the developing ones. So it can be concluded that forestry should be paid the greatest attention during the
period of low-carbon economy development. Third, low-carbon economy is a long-term strategy for
both the world economy and Chinese society and economy, which makes forestry more and more
important. Consequently, to the national strategy and low-carbon economy, forestry is the top priority
with homeland security, food security and ecological security, and takes the big responsibility. We must
continue to implement the project of key ecological construction, enhance the ability of forest carbon
storage, propel forest planting, positively develop forestry for carbon sequestration and strength the
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ability of forest carbon sequestration as mentioned in The Standing Committee of NPC made a decision
on active response to climate change.
4 Forest Development is Effective Approach to Develop Low-carbon Economy
Planting trees increases carbon sink, so as to ameliorate living environment, and to accelerate ecological
civilization. Forest protection includes control of forest fire and plant diseases and insect pests, along
with decreasing occupation of woodland, can cut down carbon emission. As to open up new energy
source, it is great foreground to develop economy forest, particularly biomass energy forest. Forest
tourism provides with low carbon ground of leisure and entertainment for human being. In addition,
forest development has various function which adapt to climate change, that is, biodiversity
conservation, water conservation, Soil and water conservation, improvement of agricultural production
condition, and so on. Facing China's rapid economic development and prominence of environmental
pressures of population and resource, it is necessary to take the following approach to significantly
increase forest carbon sink in order to maintain sustained and rapid economic development and growth,
and also build environment-friendly, resource-saving society, so that we must pay full attention and play
a great role of forestry in developing low-carbon economy.
4.1 Accelerate pace of afforestation and promote ecological civilization
Under the guidance of "National Climate Change Programme" and "Forestry Action Plan on climate
change", we take measures to accelerate pace of afforestation. (1) Carry out afforestation vigorously.
While continuing to strengthen key ecological projects, such as Three-North Shelterbelt, returning
farmland to forest, green plain, coastal shelterbelt construction, human being must accelerate barren hills
and wasteland management, desertification control, fast-growing forest and energy base construction to
comprehensively improve the quality of afforestation in order to achieve "double goals", that is, on
schedule , to add 40 million hectares of forest area in 2020 than that in 2005 and 1.3 billion cubic meters
of forest volume. (2) Pay close attention to repair damaged forest ecosystem and enhance function of
ecological and carbon sink.
4.2 Promote green growth around vigorously
In order to maximize demand for living environment and requirement of material and cultural life, we
advance green quality around us comprehensively, under base of existing forestry. (1) At the
construction of low-carbon city mode, construction of urban forest is regarded as primary green area.
With the accelerated process of industrialization and rapid development, implementation of strategy
building large cities and towns and concentration of original national defense manufacturers to city,
emission reduction of urban industrialization is increasing. It is ridiculous to reduce emission by
industry alone. Therefore, accelerating the construction of Forest City is, not only to promote green
around housing directly and obviously, but also plays a positive effect on economy to develop
low-carbon economy. Successful creation of Baoji Forest City makes clear that city forest improve
circumstance quality. All people of city have reached consensus on ecological concept. Ecological
benefit is visible. The city has 14 657 thousand mu (unit of area)of forest, Increase storage capacity 285
million cubic meter, and reduce emission117 million tons of carbon dioxide. In the mean time, Baoji city
has attracted some famous corporations at top of world 500 and domestic to invest, to give birth to big
green business opportunity and to push local economic and social sustainable development. So it
validates experts ideas that afforestation is to increase carbon, and green is to reduce emission, as
penetrating judgment which afforestation is benefit, said by party secretary of Baoji city Tang
Junchang.(2) Accelerate rural green. Country zone is great in China. Since most rural areas are short of
forest, it is weakest area to green. So under guidance of policy to construct socialistic new country, new
height of green is boosted in vast rural area. (3) Develop compulsory planting tree action fully. Carrying
out “National voluntary tree-planting decision” and “Forest Law”, all people and society are called on to
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fulfill compulsory planting tree, to do by oneself and by reducing carbon footprint, and make main units,
such as, factory, school, army station, join green action, so make green as peoples self-conscious action.
4.3 Strengthen protection and cultivation force of forest source
Forest source is main body of terrestrial ecosystem. Forest is the greatest terrestrial carbon sink and the
most economic “carbon-absorbed device”. According to expert's calculation, about 877.8 thousand tons
of carbon dioxide per year released by a coal power plant of 20 million KW is absorbed by forest of 48
million mu (unit of area). 20.2t of Carbon dioxide per year released by automobile Audi A4 is absorbed
by forest of 11 mu (unit of area). Strengthening to foster forest source and to add carbon sink has
become strategic initiatives to build up social developmental potential, wining wider developmental
space. So, we not only accelerate pace of afforestation, but also nurture and protect exiting forest
sources and restore damaged biodiversity system. (1) We continue to implement natural forest protection
project, to increase capital investment of protection of natural forests, to manage strictly and make use
of forest resources; (2) We accelerate to constitute forest ecological benefit compensation act, and make
it come to action. In low carbon economy and eliminating carbon footprint, we should implement
carbon tax and carbon sequestration trading to businesses and individuals to create a carbon sink forests
with Carbon Fund; (3) Perfect security system, including forest law enforcement, forest fireproofing,
forest pest prevention and control, natural disaster prevention, promotion of forest technology, forest
Insurance; (4) Combined with the reform of collective forest right system, major farmers initiative
should be mobilize fully to manage woodland forest well.
5 Key Ways for Forestry Development
To speed up forestry development, forestry reform must be accelerated, and forestry recycling economy
road must go.
5.1 Promote forestry reform strongly
At the point of depth, breadth and process, forestry reform is much slower than those of rural reform,
enterprise reform and economic restructuring. In recent years, reform of collective forest right system
was implemented gradually. To better meet the needs of economic development of carbon sequestration,
we must make appropriate institutional mechanisms for forestry reform. (1) Reform current system of
forest management, and implement of forest classification management. On the one hand to strengthen
efforts of Public Welfare forest training, on the other hand to gradually liberalize operational autonomy
of commercial forest management in order to play potential of forest resources to a greater degree,
virtuous cycle track is taken as rational development and utilization - recultivate –reuse. (2) Establish
specialized institution of forestry carbon sequestration, specializing in organization and management of
forest carbon sink, carbon sequestration pilot, technology public relations, development of relevant
standards and ways in developing low-carbon economy, the institution carry up the thing and put into
action, and further set down relevant policies and legislation. In addition to increase state forestry
investment and social financing, we should positively collect green fee, forest ecological benefit
compensation fee, occupation fee of forest land, carbon sequestration fund. (3)Put low-carbon economy
and green GDP into the national assessment system, that is, assesses both GDP growth and emission
reduction target, together with supporting role for environmental greening to economic and social
foundation, so can not lead to negative effect to resource and environment at high economic growth.
“Leader who is unwilling to plant trees is unreliable”, said Zhao Leji, Shaanxi Provincial Party Secretary,
who checked Baoji Forest City creation. His words are very meaningful when we think of again. As a
leader who can not do long-term base thing, would you depend on him to have long-term strategic
objective? So, leaders at all levels of government truly implement scientific concept of development in
specific action to enhance their understanding and Importance of forestry, and to enhance
implementation of execution power.
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5.2 To develop the circular economy of forestry
Forestry industry is a complex industry group which is related to first, second and tertiary industry of
national economy and related industries, having more categories, wider conservation, longer industrial
chain and various products. It is basic, diversity, ecological and strategic, and belongs to resource
constraint-based industry. To make use of forest resources, wind energy, building hydropower plants and
wind generators, to address energy supply; layout of Industrial project should give full consideration to
recycling, not single and one-track mind. The traditional use of forest fuelwood for heating and cooking
must gradually develop to rural biogas. Various aspects of forest tourism contrary to low-carbon lifestyle,
activities, and consumption patterns should be regulated so as to protect and safeguard safety of forest
resources and beautiful environment.
5.3 Advocate healthy lifestyles among all citizens
As China's reform and opening up, rapid economic and social development lead people to improve
material and spiritual quality, consumer phenomenon, such as, buying car and big house blindly, meal
served pomp and use of disposable chopsticks, and excessive product packaging, brings a certain extent,
unreasonable consumption of resources and waste, then those should be gradually standardized under
the point of principle of elimination of carbon footprint at positive guidance, as smoking in public place,
water saving.
To sum up, forestry development for development of low-carbon economy has a direct relevance and
importance. Carbon sink and emission reduction of forest play a great role in addressing climate change
and low carbon economy. So among many ways to speed up forestry development, and to achieve low
carbon economy, forestry is the first to do.
References
[1]. Chen Shuxian. Speed up the construction of modern forestry, promote low carbon economic
development, and make new contribution to promote transformation of economic development.
Greening, 2010,(12): 6-9(In Chinese)
[2]. Liu Hanqing. Promise forestry to address climate change. Baoji Forestry Science and Technology,
2010, (1): 5 - 8 (In Chinese)
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