Effects of management regimes on carbon sequestration under the Natural Forest Protection Program in northeast China

Carbon sinks constitute an important element within the complex phenomenon of global climate change, and forest ecosystems are important global carbon sinks. The Natural Forest Protection Program (NFPP) is an ecological program in China that was established after catastrophic flooding in the country in 1998. The goals of the NFPP are to curb the deterioration of the ecological environment, strengthen the protection and restoration of habitat to increase biodiversity, and rehabilitate natural forests to support sustainable development in forest regions. This study looked at changes in carbon sequestration in a forested area of northeast China after the inception of the NFPP. The program divides China's natural forests into three classes-commercial and two types of noneconomic forests-that are subject to management regimes prescribing varying levels of timber harvest, afforestation, and reforestation. During the 18-year period from 1998 to 2015, the total amount of carbon sequestration increased at an average annual rate of 0.04 MT C. This trend reflects a transformation of forest management practices after implementation of the NFPP that resulted in prohibited and/or restricted logging and tighter regulation of allowable harvest levels for specific areas. In documenting this trend, guidelines for more effective implementation of forestry programs such as the NFPP in other countries in the future are also suggested.