Optimal spatiotemporal thinning schemes combined with wood vaulting could maximize the forest biomass carbon sink in China

Abstract To achieve carbon neutrality in China, wood vaulting, which involves semi-permanent wood storage, should be integrated with proper thinning of plantation forests to maximize the forest carbon sink. Here, we mapped the optimal forest stand biomass carbon density and stand age in terms of for...

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Main Authors: Yongzhe Chen, Xiaoming Feng, Yuanyuan Huang, Shunlin Liang, Lijuan Wang, Haozhi Ma, Zhen Gao, Linhai Cheng, Phuping Sucharitakul, Junze Zhang, Jiangzhou Xia, Wenping Yuan, Bojie Fu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Communications Earth & Environment
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02350-w
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author Yongzhe Chen
Xiaoming Feng
Yuanyuan Huang
Shunlin Liang
Lijuan Wang
Haozhi Ma
Zhen Gao
Linhai Cheng
Phuping Sucharitakul
Junze Zhang
Jiangzhou Xia
Wenping Yuan
Bojie Fu
author_facet Yongzhe Chen
Xiaoming Feng
Yuanyuan Huang
Shunlin Liang
Lijuan Wang
Haozhi Ma
Zhen Gao
Linhai Cheng
Phuping Sucharitakul
Junze Zhang
Jiangzhou Xia
Wenping Yuan
Bojie Fu
author_sort Yongzhe Chen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract To achieve carbon neutrality in China, wood vaulting, which involves semi-permanent wood storage, should be integrated with proper thinning of plantation forests to maximize the forest carbon sink. Here, we mapped the optimal forest stand biomass carbon density and stand age in terms of forest biomass carbon sink in China during 2020‒2060, by identifying the turning points in the partial impacts of various influence factors on the satellite-based forest biomass carbon sink. Subsequently, we explored how, where, and when to perform plantation forest thinning under future climates through to 2060. When combined with wood vaulting, the optimal spatiotemporal thinning schemes could enhance national forest biomass carbon sink during 2020‒2060 by 32.2% and 32.8% compared to natural conditions under the high and medium emission scenarios, without compromising the forest live biomass carbon stock. Our study outlines a new pathway towards carbon neutrality in China, offering insights for global climate change mitigation.
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institution OA Journals
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publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
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series Communications Earth & Environment
spelling doaj-art-8abe4c844c0f4a93a531574b2affd58c2025-08-20T01:51:41ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Earth & Environment2662-44352025-05-016111210.1038/s43247-025-02350-wOptimal spatiotemporal thinning schemes combined with wood vaulting could maximize the forest biomass carbon sink in ChinaYongzhe Chen0Xiaoming Feng1Yuanyuan Huang2Shunlin Liang3Lijuan Wang4Haozhi Ma5Zhen Gao6Linhai Cheng7Phuping Sucharitakul8Junze Zhang9Jiangzhou Xia10Wenping Yuan11Bojie Fu12State Key Laboratory of Regional and Urban Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Regional and Urban Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of SciencesKey Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of SciencesDepartment of Geography, The University of Hong KongResearch Institute for Eco-civilization, Chinese Academy of Social SciencesSwiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape ResearchSchool of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityChongqing Jinfo Mountain Karst Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, School of Geographical Sciences, Southwest UniversitySchool of Environment, Tsinghua UniversityState Key Laboratory of Regional and Urban Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of SciencesTianjin Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Environment, Tianjin Normal UniversitySchool of Atmospheric Sciences, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen UniversityState Key Laboratory of Regional and Urban Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of SciencesAbstract To achieve carbon neutrality in China, wood vaulting, which involves semi-permanent wood storage, should be integrated with proper thinning of plantation forests to maximize the forest carbon sink. Here, we mapped the optimal forest stand biomass carbon density and stand age in terms of forest biomass carbon sink in China during 2020‒2060, by identifying the turning points in the partial impacts of various influence factors on the satellite-based forest biomass carbon sink. Subsequently, we explored how, where, and when to perform plantation forest thinning under future climates through to 2060. When combined with wood vaulting, the optimal spatiotemporal thinning schemes could enhance national forest biomass carbon sink during 2020‒2060 by 32.2% and 32.8% compared to natural conditions under the high and medium emission scenarios, without compromising the forest live biomass carbon stock. Our study outlines a new pathway towards carbon neutrality in China, offering insights for global climate change mitigation.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02350-w
spellingShingle Yongzhe Chen
Xiaoming Feng
Yuanyuan Huang
Shunlin Liang
Lijuan Wang
Haozhi Ma
Zhen Gao
Linhai Cheng
Phuping Sucharitakul
Junze Zhang
Jiangzhou Xia
Wenping Yuan
Bojie Fu
Optimal spatiotemporal thinning schemes combined with wood vaulting could maximize the forest biomass carbon sink in China
Communications Earth & Environment
title Optimal spatiotemporal thinning schemes combined with wood vaulting could maximize the forest biomass carbon sink in China
title_full Optimal spatiotemporal thinning schemes combined with wood vaulting could maximize the forest biomass carbon sink in China
title_fullStr Optimal spatiotemporal thinning schemes combined with wood vaulting could maximize the forest biomass carbon sink in China
title_full_unstemmed Optimal spatiotemporal thinning schemes combined with wood vaulting could maximize the forest biomass carbon sink in China
title_short Optimal spatiotemporal thinning schemes combined with wood vaulting could maximize the forest biomass carbon sink in China
title_sort optimal spatiotemporal thinning schemes combined with wood vaulting could maximize the forest biomass carbon sink in china
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02350-w
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