Policy Approaches to Increase Carbon Sequestration Capacity by Optimizing Layouts of Ecological Construction

Abstract: Improving carbon sequestration capacity through ecological construction is one of the important ways to achieve the goal of “carbon neutrality” in China. Based on the analysis of the current situation and trend of ecological carbon sequestration in China, this study summarizes the main challenges in the increment of ecosystem carbon sink in China. The current situation and trend, the significant carbon sequestration capacity of forests, the recovery phase of carbon sequestration capacity of grassland, and the carbon sequestration benefits of major ecological projects are also surveyed. Then, the new challenges of China are analyzed, including the backlog of over-mature forests affecting the carbon sequestration capacity of forests, the limited land area suitable for planting forests and grasses, the less diversified investment mechanism of ecological engineering, the imperfect supporting policies and measures for ecological carbon sequestration, and the increasing demand for forest products. To make sure the “peak carbon emissions” and “carbon neutrality” goals reached as schedule, the study points out that it is necessary to optimize the layout of ecological construction and to improve the capacity of ecological carbon sequestration through the optimization of the internal structure of ecosystem and the regional coordination of ecological construction. In terms of the optimization of the internal structure of the ecosystem, several policy suggestions are put forward: restarting orderly renewal and forests logging, enhancing the ecological carbon sequestration capacity of the grassland, and fully implementing the water diversion project on the western line. For example, some related research suggestions are proposed on forest management, including redesigning the forest regeneration route, conducting pilot programs in some forest areas, constructing modern standard system of forest logging, and improving basic facilities of intermediate cuttings. In terms of the land layout optimization of ecological construction, this study suggests that the government should establish an overall planning with differentiated regional carbon neutrality path, promote the coordination of regional ecological protection and clean energy, accelerate the improvement of ecological environment, and utilize national land space highly efficiently.