Can Investment in Forestry Resource Management Reduce Haze Pollution and Carbon Emissions? Evidence from China

Abstract

In the context of green development, it is very important to explore the impact of investment in forestry resource management (IFRM) on atmospheric haze pollution and carbon emissions. Based on long time series data of 30 provincial administrative regions in China from 2008 to 2019, this study used ArcGIS spatial analysis and spatial econometric models to investigate the impact of IFRM on haze pollution and carbon emissions and its potential spatial spillover effects. The results show that areas with higher haze pollution concentrations in China were mainly distributed in the Sichuan Basin and the North China Plain; areas with high carbon emission intensity were mainly distributed in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Shandong, Hebei, etc. For every 1% increase in IFRM, haze pollution and carbon emissions decreased by 0.0655% and 0.1169%, respectively, indicating that IFRM has significantly improved the ecological environment. In addition, IFRM not only significantly reduced haze pollution and carbon emissions in local areas, but also had a strong negative effect on haze pollution in neighboring areas. This study provides important strategies for promoting forestry resource management and regional green development.