Carbon neutralization in Yunnan: harnessing the power of forests to mitigate carbon emissions and promote sustainable development in the Southwest forest area of China

This paper explores the concept of "carbon peak and carbon neutrality" and its impact on Yunnan Province, a key region in China's southwest forest area. It uses data from the National Forest Resources Inventory, biomass conversion factor method, and carbon dioxide emission measurement algorithm to estimate forest carbon sequestration and increment during nine National Forest Resources Inventory periods. The paper also compares carbon emissions to carbon absorption, revealing a gap between emissions and absorption. The paper proposes a carbon neutralization path from three levels: forest carbon sequestration supply, demand, and market. It suggests that Yunnan Province should combine the "carbon emission reduction and carbon neutralization" plan with the provincial circumstances, afforestation, and reforestation, reducing deforestation and forest degradation, increasing forest carbon sequestration supply, and building a database for supply information. It also accounts for carbon dioxide emissions from polluting enterprises and encourages industries to engage in forest carbon sequestration to promote Yunnan's energy structure transformation and industrial structure upgrading. The government should establish a cooperation mechanism with farmers, forestry departments, financial institutions, and carbon trading platforms to achieve carbon sequestration benefits. The study aims to advance Yunnan's efforts to reduce CDE and become emissions-free from a variety of perspectives and fields. The novelty of the study covers several factors such as forest types, carbon storage capacity, and forest management practices. Based on available information and remote sensing techniques, and examines the potential of present forest capture of carbon in the province of Yunnan.