Forest coverage rate in Jingzhou reaches 76.04%. (Photo/Liu Gang)
On August 13, Jingzhou Miao and Dong Autonomous County signed a contract with the Xiamen Commodity Exchange Association to conduct a 3,700-ton forestry carbon coupon transaction, realizing the first cross-provincial carbon coupon transaction.
Jingzhou is a typical mountainous forestry county with a forest coverage rate of 76.04%. The county’s total carbon reserves are as high as 22.4366 million tons, the per capita GEP(Gross Ecosystem Product) reaches CNY 149,700, and the highest reaches CNY 464,200, ranking among the top in Hunan Province.
In recent years, Jingzhou has deeply implemented the concept of “two mountains” and strived to open up the two-way transformation channel of “lucid waters and lush mountains” and “invaluable assets”. In 2022, it was successfully approved as the practical innovation base for “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets” and, efforts were made to ensure that the reform of “three rights” separation of collective forest land was selected as the “Typical Cases of Comprehensive Local Reform Cases of China’s Reform in 2023”.
“This cross-provincial transaction of forestry carbon coupons is another breakthrough for Jingzhou in the field of forestry carbon sink economy.” Yi Jian, secretary of the leading Party members’ group and director of the county’s Development and Reform Bureau, said that by introducing market mechanisms, forestry carbon sink resources are transformed into tradable assets, which not only increases the source of income for local forest farmers, but also promotes the sustainable use and protection of forestry resources. It also promotes inter-regional economic cooperation and exchanges, injecting new vitality and impetus into the construction of ecological progress in Jingzhou and even in Hunan Province.
In the next step, Jingzhou will continue to rely on rich forestry resources to actively explore new paths and new models for the development of forestry carbon sink economy. By strengthening scientific and technological innovation, improving market mechanisms, and deepening regional cooperation, Jingzhou will continue to improve forestry carbon sink conversion efficiency and market value, hoping to make greater contributions to achieving the goals of carbon peak and carbon neutrality.
(Translated by Yang Sigui)