Forest therapy has emerged as a promising intervention for chronic health conditions, yet the underlying mechanisms that govern its efficacy remain poorly understood. The study’s objective was to explore the therapeutic potential for four chronic diseases- hypertension, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and subhealth through the interaction of environmental and structural factors of three subtropical forest types of deciduous broadleaf, evergreen broadleaf, and mixed coniferous-broadleaf forests in Zhejiang Province, China. The forest environmental factors we have selected include the biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs), illumination, temperature, humidity, wind speed, CO2, ozone (O3), PM2.5, PM10, and negative air ions (NAI) in forest stands. The forest structural factors we have selected include diameter at breast height, tree height, clear bole height, canopy density, leaf area index, stand density, altitude, aggregation index, competition index, and mingling index. Physiological and psychological indicators of four chronic diseases groups were used as dependent variables. The methods of random forest analysis and factor importance ranking were employed to identify the predominant drivers of forest therapy efficacy. The key findings indicate that beneficial BVOCs promoted therapeutic effects across all four patient groups, with the antihypertensive effect is significant in the hypertension group (P ≤ 0.01). Environmental factors, especially humidity and O3, had negative impacts on therapeutic outcomes across all four groups. In contrast, illumination and NAI had positive therapeutic effects on three groups but not the subhealth group Structural factors, especially stand density and altitude were key drivers of treatment effectiveness. Forest type was also crucial, with deciduous broadleaf forests yielding the best outcomes for four chronic conditions. The three forest types all exhibited significant therapeutic effects on emotional scores (P ≤ 0.001). In addition, deciduous broadleaf forest significantly reduced systolic blood pressure (P ≤ 0.001), while evergreen broadleaf forest significantly reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure (P ≤ 0.001). This study provides critical insights into the interactions between the forest environment, structures, and therapeutic effects, offering a foundation for optimizing forest therapy strategies and forest management practices to improve public health. The findings have implications for personalized therapeutic interventions and sustainable forest management in subtropical regions.

The deposition of nutrient elements such as C, N, and P carried by forest fire smoke is a crucial process in the material cycle of forest ecosystems, yet the mechanisms underlying its impacts of smoke deposition on the soil system remain unclear. Biological firebreaks are unique environment where the effects of heat from fire is minimal and only the effect of dispersed smoke that has a clear impact. Thus, taking Schima superba biological firebreaks in subtropical China as the research object, this study conducted a field simulation experiment of lowand high-concentration forest fire smoke deposition, and continuously monitored the stoichiometric characteristics, physicochemical properties, soil enzyme activities, and bacterial community structure of litter and soil layers (0-10 cm and 10-20 cm layers) for 12 months. The results showed that: (1) in the short term, smoke deposition significantly increased the contents of C, N, and P in litter and soil while reducing the C: P and N: P ratios in the litter layer. However, in the long term (12 months), it exacerbated soil P limitation, leading to a significant increase in C: P and N: P ratios in the 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm soil layers. (2) Smoke deposition exhibited a concentration-dependent effect on soil enzyme activities; i.e., "low concentration-promoting and high concentration-inhibiting" effect on activities of enzymes related to litter decomposition (e.g., cellulase and peroxidase), nitrogen cycle enzymes (e.g., protease, urease, and nitrate reductase) and phosphorus cycle enzymes (e.g., alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase). (3) The bacterial community in the litter layer changed rapidly and drastically, with smoke-tolerant and degrading taxa (e.g., Bacteroidetes) enriched in the short term; the soil layer was dominated by Acidobacteria and Proteobacteria, and stress-tolerant taxa (e.g., Actinobacteria) were enriched in the deep soil layer in the later stage. High-concentration smoke drove the community to reorganize into heat-tolerant and efficient organic matter-degrading groups. (4) Nutrient elements, such as NON, OC, TN, and EC were the key environmental factors regulating bacterial community structure. Structural Equation Modeling revealed that smoke deposition indirectly affected the C:N:P stoichiometric balance of the litter-soil system by directly altering bacterial community structure and enzyme activities, and this impact showed significant variation with soil depth. This study clarifies the multi-dimensional impacts and regulatory mechanisms of forest fire smoke deposition on soil ecological processes in S. superba firebreaks, providing a theoretical basis for post-fire restoration of subtropical forests and scientific management of biological firebreaks.

The changing climate is reshaping forest disturbance regimes, creating major uncertainties for sustaining the ecological integrity (EI) of mountain national parks. To address this, we conducted a systematic review of the impacts of changing disturbance regimes on forest ecosystems within mountain national parks. From 26 accepted peer-reviewed papers, we synthesized observed EI trends, ecological levels, spatial and temporal scales, EI attributes, assessment methods and metrics. Results revealed a predominant decline in EI, especially through losses of resilience, while stable or improved trends emerged mainly at broad spatial extents and long temporal scales, reflecting strong scale dependence. Assessments were biased toward structure, composition, and resilience, with limited attention to biodiversity and function, and they often relied on state-based rather than rate-based metrics. Methodologically, most studies used coarse-resolution models, with field surveys and remote sensing underrepresented, limiting the detection of fine-grain post-disturbance forest ecosystem successions. We identify three critical gaps: (1) insufficient assessment of ecosystem- and landscape-level EI trends, (2) limited use of high-resolution remote sensing methods and advanced metrics, and (3) lack of robust reference conditions to interpret post-disturbance changes. To advance EI assessments, we recommend integrating high-resolution remote sensing with models, expanding metrics to capture biodiversity, function, and rates of forest responses, and adopting multi-scale reference frameworks. These improvements will clarify how climate-driven disturbance regimes changes shape forest dynamics and provide stronger foundations for adaptive management of mountain national parks.

Forest thinning is a common silvicultural practice that influences the forest carbon dynamics. However, current research focused on a few thinning management variables and specific regions, and the drivers of carbon stock changes in thinned forests at the global scale remain unclear. Through a global meta-analysis of 197 studies comprising 821 pairs of thinning data, we comprehensively evaluated the effects of thinning on aboveground carbon (AGC) and soil organic carbon stocks (SOCS), and to identify the drivers of them. Thinning generally reduced AGC in the short term, but moderate intensities (20 %-35 %), especially combined with understory plant removal, accelerated AGC recovery. Stem-only harvesting (SOH) increased the recovery rate of AGC by 6.05 % compared with whole-tree harvesting (WTH). Strip thinning impeded AGC recovery due to edge effects. Thinning significantly enhanced SOCS by 3.53 %. However, thinning intensity was not the primary determinant, and the positive effects on SOCS gradually disappeared after 10 years. Moreover, fertilization, pruning, and understory plant removal all contributed to further increased SOCS in thinned forests. Structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that AGC was driven by thinning intensity and recovery time, and soil organic carbon (SOC) and tree height were main direct determinants. SOCS was indirectly enhanced by increases in soil total nitrogen (TN), whereas it was negatively influenced by diameter at breast height (DBH) growth driven by recovery time. Overall, our findings emphasize the critical role of appropriate thinning practices in facilitating carbon stock recovery, while also elucidating the driving mechanisms of tree growth and soil properties on carbon dynamics in thinned forests.

Non-shock ignition poses significant danger to the safety of polymer-bonded explosives (PBXs). The phenomenon is not only related to the chemical characteristics of energetic materials but also related to their microstructures; it sometimes shows random features. Inspired by Walker-Wasley threshold, a modified ignition threshold is proposed and incorporated in the Viscoelastic Statistical CRAck Mechanics model (Visco-SCRAM model) to evaluate the accumulated energy input in PBXs and the ignition probability. First, the Visco-SCRAM model was implemented and validated with a Steven test. Then, the Visco-SCRAM model was applied with the modified ignition threshold to evaluate the ignition probability for a series of Steven tests. The proposed methodology may facilitate immediate safety evaluation of PBXs in non-shock ignition.

Abstract Transboundary fire‐derived aerosols in Southeast Asia pose a persistent regional environmental challenge, with impacts extending beyond air quality to ecosystem function and carbon dynamics, yet their effects on seasonal phenology remain poorly understood. Here we use a coupled atmosphere‐air quality model, ridge regression, structural equation models and a scenario‐based random forest model to quantify the impacts of fire aerosol on spring green‐up date (GUD). Results show that during the period 2010 to 2022, fire emissions dominated regional aerosol optical depth (AOD), explaining 91.18% of its interannual variability. The region exhibited a warming and wetting trend advancing GUD, with pre‐GUD temperature controlling GUD in 57.82% of the area. Fire‐derived AOD delayed GUD through both direct and indirect meteorological effects, partially offsetting climate‐driven GUD advancement. Scenario simulations indicate that without the observed decline in fire‐derived AOD, the current GUD advance (−0.68 days/yr) would reverse to a slight delay (0.01 days/yr). These findings demonstrate that fire aerosols can counteract climate‐induced earlier GUD, underscoring the need to incorporate cross‐border aerosol forcing into ecosystem resilience and fire management assessments.

The persistent mismatch between the supply of ecosystem services (ES) and stakeholder demand remains a critical obstacle to effective ecosystem management. Previous studies have often failed to integrate the objective supply of ES with subjective stakeholder preferences within a unified spatial framework. In this study, we addressed this gap using the Shennongjia Forest Region (SNJFR) in China as a case study. We quantified the spatial supply of five key ESs (carbon sequestration, water yield, soil conservation, habitat quality, and leisure tourism) and evaluated the preferences for 23 ES types among four principal stakeholder groups (community residents, individual operators, government officials, and tourists; n = 120) using Q-methodology. A composite index based on multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) was then constructed to assess the spatial alignment between supply and demand. Our results revealed a distinct spatial gradient in the SNJFR, where the supply of the five key ESs was concentrated in the central region, diminishing toward the periphery. Conversely, stakeholder preferences clustered around four thematic perspectives: tourism culture, liveability, production-living, and ecological conservation. Notably, the tourism culture perspective received the strongest support (45.92%), indicating that cultural services are highly prioritized by stakeholders compared to regulating and supporting services. Crucially, the spatial matching analysis highlighted discrepancies between high-preference areas and actual service provision. Based on the MCDA, we delineated the region into three functional zones: comprehensive urban development, ecotourism-dominated, and ecological barrier protection. Our findings reveal divergent stakeholder feedback on zoning and development priorities. Decision-makers must reconcile these disparities during the zoning process to foster sustainable management, particularly in resource-rich and spatially heterogeneous regions.

Bamboo-based engineered products have attracted increasing attention because of their renewable origin and long-term carbon storage potential. However, conventional life cycle assessment (LCA) mainly evaluates greenhouse gas emissions and cannot quantify how efficiently biomass-derived carbon is retained during manufacturing. Therefore, this study proposes carbon transfer efficiency (CTE) as a complementary indicator for assessing retained biogenic carbon in bamboo-based engineered products. Based on plant-scale manufacturing data from a representative bamboo scrimber factory in China, CTE was quantified together with the cradle-to-gate carbon footprint. Carbon loss distribution among manufacturing stages and sensitivity to key process parameters were further analyzed. Results showed that 65–78% of the initial biogenic carbon was retained in the final product. Unit separation and secondary machining accounted for more than 70% of total carbon loss, whereas adhesive application and hot pressing dominated greenhouse gas emissions but caused little direct carbon loss. Material-loss-related parameters exhibited substantially greater influence on CTE than energy-related parameters. These findings demonstrate that carbon retention efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions characterize different dimensions of environmental performance. Integrating CTE with LCA provides a more comprehensive framework for evaluating carbon storage and low-carbon manufacturing of bamboo-based engineered products.

Lhasa, one of the world's highest cities, confronts the challenge of harmonizing cultural heritage preservation with ecological protection. Assessing the spatiotemporal dynamics of ecosystem service value (ESV) in its central urban area is therefore critical for informing future urban planning and land management. This study systematically analyzed land use evolution, the spatiotemporal characteristics of ecosystem services, and ecological network construction within Lhasa's central urban area. It integrated multi-source data, including Landsat remote sensing imagery from 2000, 2010, and 2023, with multiple modeling methods such as the InVEST model, MaxEnt for cultural service assessment, the Minimum Cumulative Resistance (MCR) model, and circuit theory. Based on these analyses, optimization strategies were proposed. The results indicate that from 2000 to 2023, areas of cultivated land, grassland, and water bodies decreased by 7.47 %, 6.85 %, and 0.68 %, respectively, while wetland and forest areas expanded by 1.44 % and 0.64 %. Construction land exhibited significant expansion (12.94 %), leading to an overall ESV reduction of 462.8 x 10 5 yuan. Vegetation coverage was identified as the pivotal factor influencing ESV distribution, with higher values concentrated in the Lhasa River Basin and near the Lhalu Wetland, diminishing towards the urban core. Furthermore, spatial autocorrelation analysis revealed significant positive spatial clustering, with low-low aggregation in the eastern and central regions and high-high aggregation in the Lhasa River Basin and its surrounding water bodies. Moreover, based on a comprehensive ecosystem service assessment, 11 ecological source sites were identified, primarily in the southwestern mountains and northeastern foothills. A comprehensive resistance surface, incorporating factors such as elevation, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and land use, facilitated the extraction of 23 potential ecological corridors totaling 124.96 km in length. Topological network analysis indicated high redundancy and connectivity; however, marginal source sites relying on single connections exhibited significant vulnerability to rupture. Additionally, the application of circuit theory identified 30 ecological pinch points (current density >= 1.5 A/km2) and 23 obstacle points, revealing significant blockages to ecological flow along the Qinghai-Tibet Highway, within the old city, and in other areas of high-intensity human activity. To address the identified network deficiencies-'scattered cores, fragmented corridors, and insufficient resilience'-this study proposes an optimization strategy conceptualized as 'one vein, three corridors, and multiple cores'. Recommendations for enhancing network resilience include the delineation of ecological protection red lines, the integration of plateau-adapted technologies, and the fostering of community governance mechanisms. This approach aims to provide a scientific basis for constructing an ecological security pattern and promoting sustainable development in plateau cities. Ultimately, this research contributes to the enhancement of ecological well-being in the Himalayan region.

Conservation easements (CEs) represent a complex policy instrument designed to mediate the feedback loops within coupled human and natural systems in protected areas. However, their efficacy is often constrained by a lack of systemic understanding of the localized drivers of community support. Building upon the successful implementation of Forest Land Easements (FLEs) within China's Qianjiangyuan National Park Pilot, this study investigates the potential to expand this policy model to other land types. This study investigates the multilevel factors influencing residents' willingness to adopt three types of CEs, including forest land (FLE), agricultural land (ALE) and homestead land (HLE) easements in China's Qianjiangyuan National Park Pilot, the country's primary CE reform site. We conceptualize a hierarchical support model wherein community participation (CP) and human well-being (HW) interact with support for park management (SM), forming a subsystem that drives decisions within the broader land-use. Utilizing structural equation modelling (SEM) and stepwise regression analysis on survey data from 336 households, we tested this model. The results reveal that SM acts as a critical direct mediator and positive driver of CE acceptance, while CP and HW exert significant indirect effects through SM, demonstrating a key feedback pathway. Regression analyses further elucidate that support for different CE types is driven by distinct configurations of factors, highlighting the heterogeneous nature of subsystems. Notably, livelihood benefits and prior participation experiences emerged as consistent, cross-cutting systemic leverages. It demonstrates that leveraging the implementation experience and community support gained from existing forest land easements is crucial. This study concludes that effective CE design must move beyond one-size-fits-all approaches. It necessitates differentiated, adaptive policies that are coherently aligned with local livelihood subsystems and strategically strengthen participatory feedback mechanisms initiated by successful FLEs. Our findings provide an evidence-based framework for designing resilient, socially sustainable conservation policies in complex protected area systems, grounded in proven practice.

Aim Climate-driven fire increases could be modified by fire-fuel feedback, as recent fires reduce burnable fuels for future fires. Knowing the effects of fire-fuel feedback is essential for more accurate projection of fire activity, which, however, has often been overlooked due to the challenge in its quantification. This study aims to project future fire activity under the changing climates with consideration for fire-fuel feedback effects across Canada. Location Canadian forests. Time Period 1981-2100. Major Taxa Studied Trees. Methods We projected future changes in a full set of fire activity variables, including annual area burned (AAB), annual number of fires (ANF) and annual maximum fire size (MFS), based on extreme fire weather in Canada. We then incorporated fire-fuel feedback into the projections to quantify its effects in Canadian forests and consequently answered the question of whether the unprecedented 2023 fire season would become a common occurrence in the future. Results The feedback from fires within 6-11 years prior showed the strongest power in rectifying fire activity projections, and the feedback effects strengthened as climate change became more severe. By century's end (2080s), under the extreme climate change scenario (RCP8.5), fire-fuel feedback could reduce weather-based AAB, ANF and MFS projections by 21%, 21% and 16%, respectively. Spatially, eastern and northwestern regions may see the greatest fire activity increases, while the strongest feedback effects appear in the south and northwest. In the 2080s, under RCP8.5, years with more extensive fires than 2023 may occur once every 9 years in regions most affected by the unprecedented 2023 fire season. Main Conclusions The results indicate that fire-fuel feedback could modestly mitigate climate-driven increases in future fire activity in Canadian forests. With more accurate projections that account for such feedback effects, the extraordinary 2023 fire season could be considered a low-frequency but more plausible occurrence in the future.

Urban agroforestry ecosystems, formed by the intermixing of croplands and urban forests, play a crucial role in enhancing ecological resilience and supporting sustainable landscape management. However, how different proportions of forest and farmland contribute to ecosystem multifunctionality and modify interactions among ecosystem services (ESs) remains insufficiently understood, particularly within rapidly urbanizing environments. In this study, we quantified four keys-grain production, water conservation, soil retention, and carbon sequestration-across urban–rural agroforestry compositions in Changchun City, Northeast China. Using multisource satellite products and biophysical models, we assessed spatiotemporal changes in ES supply, evaluated multifunctionality across five agroforestry composition types, and examined trade-offs and synergies among ESs. The results show clear spatial differentiation driven by the urban-rural forest gradient. Among the five compositions, multifunctionality was lowest in the agricultural area (AA, farmland > 80%), while in mixed urban agroforestry zones-including agriculture-forest area (AFA, farmland > 60% and forest > 20%), agriculture–forest balance area (AFBA, farmland > 40% and forest > 40%), forest-agriculture area (FAA, farmland > 20% and forest > 60%), and forest area (FA, forest > 80%)-multifunctionality declined progressively as forest proportion increased. Strong synergy between grain production and water conservation was observed in AA, whereas in the other compositions, soil retention and water conservation formed the dominant synergistic pair, with synergy slightly strengthening as forest percentage increased. Notably, in FA, the relationship between grain production and soil retention shifted from synergy to trade-off, reflecting functional shifts along the urban forest gradient. These findings provide a scientific basis for optimizing the spatial configuration of urban forests and farmlands, and support nature-based solutions and integrated landscape planning aimed at balancing food security and ecological sustainability in urbanizing regions.

Bamboo is a widely distributed, renewable resource that can deliver a broad range of green products and ecosystem services while supporting rural livelihoods. It has been increasingly acknowledged as a nature-based solution for mitigating climate change, promoting sustainable development, and facilitating the transition to a circular economy. This review synthesizes current knowledge of the global distribution of bamboo and its ecological functions, product innovations, and emerging role in carbon finance. It identifies major barriers, including those in life-cycle assessments, product standards, and carbon accounting frameworks, that limit bamboo's integration into climate policy. Drawing on previous experience, this review underscores the importance of green technologies, value chain development, and policy mainstreaming. It outlines future pathways to advance sustainable bamboo forest management, enhance bamboo's role in carbon policy frameworks, and promote inclusive income opportunities, particularly in regions with abundant but underutilized bamboo resources. Realizing bamboo's full potential for sustainability will require coordinated efforts across science, governance, and industry.

With the proliferation of wildfires, the emitted smoke releases substantial amounts of carbonaceous materials into the atmosphere, which subsequently return to forest ecosystems through migration and deposition. Understanding the impact of wildfire smoke deposition on forest soil carbon is of substantial ecological significance. However, smoke emission from forest fires and its subsequent deposition in forest ecosystem as a "carbon source" have received limited attention. In this study, a simulated experiment involving deposition of smoke solutions at varying concentrations was conducted on litter and soil layers of Cunninghamia lanceolata plantations over a oneyear period to examine changes total carbon and stoichiometry contents, enzyme activities and bacterial community composition along with soil physicochemical properties and their underlying interrelationships. The soil pH transiently increased by 12.73 % and 11.60 % and 16.78 % and 21.24 % in 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm soil layers in response to deposition of low and high smoke concentration, respectively compared to the control. Smoke deposition did not significantly alter soil electrical conductivity, total carbon content or the proportions of elemental and organic carbon in soil layers. However, wildfire smoke deposition significantly affected the activities of catalase, polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase, and cellulase in forest litter and soil layers, with high smoke concentrations being consistently inhibitory. Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Chloroflexi, and Verrucomicrobia were dominant taxa, with a short-term decrease in their relative abundance and diversity post-smoke deposition. Microbial-enzyme interactions in the litter and soil were crucial for soil carbon sequestration and cycling. These findings emphasize the need to incorporate smoke-derived factors in soil management models to mitigate fire-impacted ecosystem degradation. We recommend prioritizing the assessment of the impacts of smoke derived from high intensity fire on forest soil carbon balance and biological activities in wildfire management strategies and implementing mitigation measures.

Bamboo forests, known for their rapid growth and sustainability, have become crucial carbon sinks in natural ecosystems while providing sustainable and durable products, significantly mitigating climate change. However, research is rarely conducted on the carbon storage dynamics of bamboo products during processing. We investigated carbon transfer dynamics during the production of Moso bamboo sliced veneer, and developed a carbon transfer model for this representative product. We also provide a reference for developing carbon project methodologies, carbon footprint assessments of bamboo products, and strategies for improving low-carbon production in the bamboo industry. A total of 352 Moso bamboo poles (classified by three length groups and five thickness classes) were monitored during production and processing into bamboo planks. The carbon transfer rates of bamboo boards with varying specifications and diameters at breast height (DBHs) were analyzed, and a carbon storage model for sliced veneer was established. There was a significant difference in the carbon transfer rates among the three lengths of bamboo plank boards (p < 0.01). The 2000 mm bamboo board exhibited the highest carbon transfer rate, reaching 39.14 %. The relationship between carbon transfer rate and DBH was represented by the function y = 1.1876x + 25.242 (R² = 0.9779), suggesting that the carbon transfer rate of bamboo increased with increasing DBH. The carbon transfer rate of the 2500 mm bamboo board ranged from 15.63 % to 38.57 %; its linear fitting equation was y = 2.6645x - 4.0488 (R²=0.9606). A carbon storage model for bamboo veneers with different DBHs was then developed: y = 0.003 ×2.6299 (R²=0.7906). This model provides the foundation for accurately estimating the carbon storage of bamboo products. Our findings also demonstrate that the carbon storage of bamboo exhibits exponential growth with increasing DBH. Thus, Moso bamboo with a DBH > 9 cm is the preferred raw material for optimal production of sliced bamboo veneer.

Public health crises have presented evolving challenges and opportunities for tourism management. By integrating ground survey data with social media big data using Bayesian Network modeling, we analyzed how the pandemic changes in visitor engagement with forest environments in national park from 2019 to 2023 based on 45,007 unique records. Results show increased sensitivity of nature and forest-based attributes and decreased sensitivity of infrastructure to overall satisfaction in 2020 and 2021. Educational level, income, and age were key demographic factors associated with satisfaction. Four scenario analyses explored outcomes of hypothetical visitor shifts and management interventions, while backpropagation analyses identified efficient pathways to optimal satisfaction, with park infrastructure and hospitality yielding the greatest marginal benefits. This study supports data-driven strategies to increase park ecological and operational resilience, enhance visitor experience and loyalty, and inform adaptive park management for the new normal and future public health crises.

Collective action is increasingly recognized as a critical yet understudied mechanism for achieving equity and sustainability in Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) programs. This study investigates how village-level collective participation shapes income growth and income inequality among farm households under China's Grain for Green Program (GFGP), one of the world's largest ecological restoration initiatives. Using household survey data from 1050 households across 30 counties in Jiangxi, Sichuan, and Shaanxi provinces, this study employs OLS and mediation models to quantify the direct and indirect impacts of collective action participation. The results reveal that collective participation significantly enhances household income and mitigates inequality, particularly benefiting households with slower income growth. These effects operate partly through increased income from retired land, while policy information remains an important factor impacting experienced inequality. However, the redistributive role of collective action varies with local development levels, being most evident in counties with initially less-developed conditions. By examining participation in collective arrangements as a redistributive institutional mechanism, this study extends PES theory beyond individual incentive models and provides practical insights for integrating local collective governance into national ecological compensation policies.

In the course of fighting climate change, bamboo forests are increasingly recognized as a modern nature-based solution. Developing bamboo-based carbon projects can bring triple-bottom-line benefits to livelihood, climate, and industry, but they can also face various barriers. Based on a qualitative research framework, this paper discusses the key challenges and lessons learned from China. It then describes some of the innovative approaches that have been adopted to overcome these challenges. We identified four overarching challenges: economic, market, technical, and social. First, the rising labor costs and declining market demand for bamboo products are critical economic challenges, leading to high upfront project development costs and increasingly lower financial viability of bamboo-based investments. Second, the low transaction demand and the shifts in the national offset market have contributed to the market challenges. Moreover, many bamboo-rich regions face technical difficulties, such as lacking forestry infrastructure and skilled bamboo-specific carbon experts. Fourth, social challenges exist regarding the information asymmetry between farmers and project developers and the difficulties encountered when managing forest land-use rights in China. Inspired by several recent innovations, this paper recommends a green financing model integrating large-scale, professional forest management and the essential downstream bamboo industry development via strategies such as concessional loans and carbon-linked subsidies. There is a need for internationally standardized methodologies for bamboo forest management that incorporate advanced carbon accounting for selective harvesting and product carbon pools, enhancing credibility and scalability in compliance and voluntary markets. Such developments are needed if global policymakers, especially from some of the bamboo-based economies of the Global South, are to transform bamboo resources effectively for climate change mitigation, environmental protection, and local livelihood enhancement.

Bamboo forests present a novel nature-based strategy to remove atmospheric carbon dioxide thanks to their extraordinary carbon sequestration capacity. In particular, Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) sequesters more than 40 tonnes of carbon dioxide per hectare annually. However, these forests have encountered challenges in some areas due to decentralized management and industry downturns. An innovative green financing model incorporating village cooperatives could address the critical problems facing the management of bamboo forests while contributing to the mitigation of the climate crisis. Meanwhile, the model will significantly benefit the less-developed communities in many parts of the world by increasing farmers’ incomes, enhancing livelihood, and boosting local economies.

The increasing frequency of extreme weather events raises the likelihood of forest wildfires. Therefore, establishing an effective fire prediction model is vital for protecting human life and property, and the environment. This study aims to build a prediction model to understand the spatial characteristics and piecewise effects of forest fire drivers. Using monthly grid data from 2006 to 2020, a modeling study analyzed fire occurrences during the September to April fire season in Fujian Province, China. We compared the fitting performance of the logistic regression model (LRM), the generalized additive logistic model (GALM), and the spatial generalized additive logistic model (SGALM). The results indicate that SGALMs had the best fitting results and the highest prediction accuracy. Meteorological factors significantly impacted forest fires in Fujian Province. Areas with high fire incidence were mainly concentrated in the northwest and southeast. SGALMs improved the fitting effect of fire prediction models by considering spatial effects and the flexible fitting ability of nonlinear interpretation. This model provides piecewise interpretations of forest wildfire occurrences, which can be valuable for relevant departments and will assist forest managers in refining prevention measures based on temporal and spatial differences.