An integrated assessment model of carbon sequestration benefits: A case study of Liping county, China

This research attempts to model the complexity of planting trees to increase Chinaʹs CO2 sequestration potential by using a GIS-based integrated assessment (IA) approach. We use the IA model to assess the impact of Chinaʹs Grain for Green reforestation and afforestation program on farmer and state incomes as well as CO2 sequestration in Liping County, Guizhou Province. The IA model consists of five sub-models for carbon sequestration, crop income, timber income, Grain for Green, and carbon credits. It also includes a complementary qualitative module for assessing program impacts by gender and ethnicity. Using four scenarios with various assumptions about types of trees planted, crop incomes by township, CO2 credit prices, state subsidies, methods for estimating carbon sequestered, and harvesting of trees, we find great variation in the impact of the Grain for Green program on incomes and on carbon sequestered over a 48 year period at both the county and township levels.