Carbon Footprint Accounting and Influencing Factors Analysis for Forestry Enterprises in the Key State-Owned Forest Region of the Greater Khingan Range, Northeast China

Abstract

This paper constructed a carbon footprint calculation model and analyzed the carbon footprint characteristics and impact mechanism of forestry enterprises in the Greater Khinggan Range, northeast China, based on the survey and statistical data during 2017–2021. The process-based life cycle assessment (LCA) was used to calculate the total carbon footprint and carbon footprint intensity; then, a panel data model combined with ridge regression was used to explore the impacts of different factors on the carbon footprint of the forestry enterprises. Results showed that the forestry enterprises’ total carbon footprint and carbon footprint intensity showed a general trend of increasing first and then decreasing from 2017 to 2021. The average annual carbon footprint of the forestry enterprises ranged from 2354 t CO2-eq to 24,354 t CO2-eq, and the average annual carbon footprint intensity ranged from 3.48 kg CO2-eq hm−2 to 31.76 kg CO2-eq hm−2. Fire area, the number of hired labor, and vehicle usage intensity are significant driving factors of the carbon footprint in forestry enterprises. The study results can provide references for policy formulation in relation to carbon footprint control in forest regions.

Evaluating Household Welfare in Participation of China’s Natural Forest Protection Program: A Dual Perspective of Income Welfare and Material Welfare

“…Wage income constitutes more than 80% of the total income. These findings are consistent with the conclusions drawn by Jiang and Xu (2011) [29], Wang et al (2016) [30], and other studies that indicate that participation in the NFPP can offer stable employment opportunities and increase income. Nonetheless, low-income levels and a single-income structure continue to pose significant challenges to improving the welfare of households in forestry communities [31,122].…”

“…In the extant literature, the inquiry into the efficacy of forest protection programs in addressing the forest resource crisis and promoting the welfare of local forestry communities has primarily concentrated on the following domains (For technical progress in the existing literature around NFPP welfare effect assessment, see Appendix A): (1) assessment of the welfare of households within forestry communities from a unidimensional perspective, wherein household welfare levels are evaluated solely based on economic income [28]. Some scholars have examined the impact of the implementation of NFPP on the income of households employed by SFEs [29][30][31][32], while others have studied the effects of strict protection measures such as logging restrictions and forest nurturing implemented by SFEs during the NFPP implementation on the income of forestry community households [33,34]. (2) Assessment of the welfare of households within forestry communities from a multidimensional perspective.…”

Research Themes, Evolution Trends, and Future Challenges in China’s Carbon Emission Studies

“…Some Chinese scholars have found that businesses can reduce their carbon footprint by improving energy efficiency, adopting clean energy sources, reducing logistics-related carbon emissions, and implementing carbon reduction measures [73]. Additionally, some studies suggest that social responsibility and principles of sustainable operation play a crucial role in business decisions related to emission reduction [74].…”