Co-benefits of the National Key Ecological Function Areas in China for carbon sequestration and environmental quality

Abstract

IntroductionThe National Key Ecological Functional Areas (NKEFAs) are location-oriented ecological engineering of China, which rely on the main functional area planning. The co-benefits of ecological product supply and ecological environment improvement of NKEFAs has not been fully assessed in the literature.MethodsNKEFAs is considered a quasi-natural experiment, and the time-varying difference-in-differences (DID) model is used to assess the impact of NKEFAs on carbon sequestration (CS) and environmental quality (EQ) based on the panel data of 330 cities in China from 2001 to 2019. Then, we explore whether the co-benefits of ecological product supply and eco-environment protection can be achieved.Results and discussionNKEFAs can enhance CS and EQ and thus achieve co-benefits for both. NKEFAs can achieve the co-benefits of CS and EQ through territory spatial allocation and labor force aggregation, but industrial structure upgrading only positively mediates the impact of NKEFAs on CS. The co-benefits of CS and EQ are heterogeneous across functional area types, geospatial locations, and quantiles, while only CS at windbreak-sand fixation area, northwestern region, and low quantile regions is enhanced. This study makes a theoretical and methodological contribution to the existing literature on the policy effect assessment of ecological engineering. It also provides a comprehensive framework for evaluating the ecological effects of relevant policies in other countries by integrating the co-benefits of ecological products and eco-environment, analyzing regional heterogeneity, and exploring the underlying mechanisms.

Has the Establishment of National Key Ecological Function Zones Improved Eco-Environmental Quality?—Evidence from a Quasi-Natural Experiment in 130 Counties in Sichuan Province, China

“…In the baseline model of this study, it is required that the EEQ values of the treatment group and the control group of counties exhibit similar trends in variation when not affected by the establishment of NKEFZ policy. Meanwhile, due to factors such as implementation foundation, intensity and adjustment of production factors affecting the establishment of NKEFZs, the policy effects of NKEFZ establishment may experience lag and digestion periods, leading to potential policy implementation effects having some degree of delay [8]. Taking into account the considerations mentioned above, this study will follow Beck's [48] approach and employ event analysis to examine the parallel-trends assumption in the multi-period DID estimation applied in this study and the dynamism of policy effects from the establishment of NKEFZs.…”

“…Land 2024, 13, x FOR PEER REVIEW 8 of 17 implementation effects having some degree of delay [8]. Taking into account the considerations mentioned above, this study will follow Beck's [48] approach and employ event analysis to examine the parallel-trends assumption in the multi-period DID estimation applied in this study and the dynamism of policy effects from the establishment of NKEFZs.…”

“…The latter category primarily aims to improve the eco-environment and provide ecological products. Notably, National Key Ecological Function Zones (NKEFZs) serve as a vital natural ecological barrier in China, with the NKEFZ policy emerging as the country's largest regional ecological compensation initiative [8,9]. In this context, addressing sustainable development challenges and ensuring that NKEFZs effectively enhance eco-environmental quality (EEQ) are pivotal for the stable and enduring success of this ecological policy.…”

Optimization strategies of ecological security patterns through importance of ecosystem services and ecological sensitivity—A case study in the Yellow River Basin

“…Green plants can fix 1.63 g of carbon dioxide and release 1.2 g of oxygen for every 1 g of dry matter produced, and the carbon content of dry matter is 45%, so the amount of carbon fixation and oxygen release of green plants is calculated according to this theory (Chen et al, 2023; Wu et al, 2018). where C a is carbon sequestration and oxygen release of vegetation (g C m −2 ) and NPP is the net primary productivity of vegetation. Biodiversity conservation …”

“…Green plants can fix 1.63 g of carbon dioxide and release 1.2 g of oxygen for every 1 g of dry matter produced, and the carbon content of dry matter is 45%, so the amount of carbon fixation and oxygen release of green plants is calculated according to this theory (Chen et al, 2023;Wu et al, 2018).…”