Research on Forest Carbon Sink Potential in China

The original variables were 14 statistics in 31 provinces and cities in mainland China (excluding Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) in 2019, including forest area, forest tending area, afforestation area and timber production. Factor analysis was used to study the factors affecting development potential of forest carbon sinks in mainland China. The results show that the total forest resources factor extracted from the variables related to forest stock and forest land use area was the most important affecting this potential, followed by the forest climate and output value factor extracted from variables related to climate and output. Third was the forest ecological construction factor, which was extracted from forestry afforestation area related variables and fire-damaged areas. In last place was the forest disaster prevention factor extracted from forest nurturing and pest and rodent control area variables. According to systematic clustering of the comprehensive score, development potential of forest carbon sinks in 31 provinces and municipalities across the country was divided into five categories and, based on this, targeted suggestions were put forward for improvement of the above potential in various regions.