The evaluation of forest carbon sequestration potential value of national parks and its promotion path

In the context of ecological protection and the construction of ecological civilization in China, national parks hold a crucial position. These areas boast abundant forest resources, with forest ecosystems playing a vital role in combating climate change due to their strong carbon sequestration capabilities. Through photosynthesis, they effectively absorb carbon dioxide. This paper utilizes the 2021 National Forest Resource Management "One Map" data to analyze the characteristics and potential future carbon sequestration values of forests within five Chinese national parks. The study reveals that these national parks have a high proportion of mature and over\mature forests, as well as a significant percentage of natural forests. However, the limited area suitable for afforestation constrains methods to increase forest carbon sequestration and poses the risk of carbon leakage. Despite these challenges, the forest systems within these national parks still demonstrate remarkable carbon sequestration potential. It is estimated that the total future carbon sequestration potential in the regions of Sanjiangyuan, Giant Panda, Northeast Tiger and Leopard, Hainan Tropical Rainforest, and Wuyishan national parks amounts to 383 million tons, with an economic value ranging between 4.5 billion to 17.5 billion yuan. Consequently, it is suggested that national parks implement reasonable forest management practices to maintain forest carbon stocks and carbon sequestration functions. Furthermore, it explores ways to realize the ecological value of forest carbon sequestration, addressing challenges posed by forest aging and carbon leakage.