Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40542904›Full record

ArticleCarbon balance and management2025

Afforestation as a mitigation strategy: countering climate-induced risk of forest carbon sink in China.

Yuan Cao, Deyu Zhong, Rong Shang, Qihua Ke, Mingxi Zhang, Di Xie, Shutong Liu, Chensong Zhao, Randongfang Wei

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Carbon balance and management, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Yuan CaoState Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
Deyu ZhongState Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China. zhongdy@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn.
Rong ShangKey Laboratory of Humid Subtropical Eco-Geographical Process of Ministry of Education, School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, 350117, China.
Qihua KeState Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
Mingxi ZhangState Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
Di XieState Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
Shutong LiuState Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
Chensong ZhaoState Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
Randongfang WeiState Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.

Funding

Key Laboratory of Hydrosphere Sciences of the Chinese Ministry of Water Resources no. sklhse-TD-2024-F01, DZNational Natural Science Foundation of China No.52209026
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundChina has made substantial efforts in afforestation since the 1970s, significantly contributing to the country's forest carbon sink. However, the future carbon sink dynamics remain uncertain due to anticipated changes in forest age structure, climate conditions, and atmospheric CO

resultsThe baseline aboveground biomass (AGB) of China's forests in 2020 is estimated at 11.59 ± 4.06 PgC. Under the nature scenario and assuming no future disturbances, the total AGB is projected to increase by 5.20-5.74 PgC by the 2050s and by 6.35-8.11 PgC by the 2070s, while carbon sequestration rates are expected to decline from 146.03 to 165.03 TgC/yr to approximately 122.98-137.80 TgC/yr. Between 11.79 and 39.60% of forests are at risk of land loss and compositional shifts in the 2070s, with the situation exacerbated under the SSP585 scenario. To mitigate climate-induced risks, the afforestation scenario proposes an additional 117.90-129.32 Mha of suitable forest area by the 2070s. Newly planted forests are projected to contribute approximately 37.42-65.60% of the carbon sequestration achieved by existing forests during the same period.

conclusionsClimate change is projected to cause significant forest loss and compositional changes across China. Although total forest carbon storage is expected to increase, the overall rate of carbon sequestration will likely decline. Afforestation emerges as a key strategy to enhance future forest carbon sinks. This study provides a spatially explicit assessment of carbon sequestration potential through afforestation and offers science-based guidance for the design of targeted forest policies in China.

Indexed as

AfforestationChinaClimate changeForest carbon sinkGrowth model

Identifiers

PMID40542904
PMCPMC12182680

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.