Forests in Peril: Climate Change, Biodiversity Loss, and Carbon Sink Decline in Northeast China
Research Article
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Forests in Peril: Climate Change, Biodiversity Loss, and Carbon Sink Decline in Northeast China

Heqian Lin 1*
1 St. John Bosco High School, Los Angeles, American
*Corresponding author: heqianlin1@gmail.com
Published on 14 October 2025
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TNS Vol.141
ISSN (Print): 2753-8826
ISSN (Online): 2753-8818
ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-395-6
ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-396-3
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Abstract

Forests in northeast China are critical for climate regulation and biodiversity conservation. Over the past few decades, climate change has become a strong stressor for these forests, resulting in changes in temperature, precipitation regimes, and ecological processes. Recent studies have begun to explore how these environmental changes affect forest structure and carbon processes. This paper explores the impacts of climate change on forest ecosystems in northeast China, especially biodiversity and carbon sinks. Rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and frequent extreme weather events have altered forest structure, species diversity, and ecosystem processes in the region. These climate changes are weakening forest stability and health, and reducing forests' ability to serve as carbon sinks. This study also explores how feedback mechanisms and regional heterogeneity enhance these impacts. Recommendations are proposed to strengthen adaptation measures, increase carbon sinks, and improve governance. This discussion not only provides policy-relevant information for regional forest management in China, but also contributes to a comprehensive understanding of climate-related issues facing temperate and boreal forests worldwide.

Keywords:

Forest, biodiversity, climate change.

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Lin,H. (2025). Forests in Peril: Climate Change, Biodiversity Loss, and Carbon Sink Decline in Northeast China. Theoretical and Natural Science,141,51-57.

References

[1]. Fu, Yuanyuan, et al. Assessing the impact of climate warming on tree species composition and distribution in the forest region of Northeast China. Frontiers in Plant Science 15 (2024): 1430025.

[2]. Hai, Yue, et al. Quantifying the impact of precipitation fluctuations on forest growth in Northeast China. Frontiers in Plant Science 16 (2025): 1570005.

[3]. Yang, Xiguang, et al. Impacts of Climate Change on Forest Biodiversity Changes in Northeast China. Remote Sensing 16.21 (2024): 4058.

[4]. Zhao, Junhao, et al. Spring Temperature Accumulation is a primary driver of forest disease and pest occurrence in China in the Context of Climate Change. Forests 14.9 (2023): 1730.

[5]. Sun, Jianfeng, et al. Estimation and simulation of forest carbon stock in northeast China forestry based on future climate change and LUCC. Remote Sensing 14.15 (2022): 3653.

[6]. Huang, Chao, et al. Effects of forest management practices on carbon dynamics of China's boreal forests under changing climates. Journal of Environmental Management 335 (2023): 117497.

[7]. Lan, Jie, et al. Stand density, climate and biodiversity jointly regulate the multifunctionality of natural forest ecosystems in northeast China. European Journal of Forest Research 142.3 (2023): 493-507.

[8]. Yang, Haijiang, Xiaohua Gou, and Dingcai Yin. Response of biodiversity, ecosystems, and ecosystem services to climate change in China: A Review. Ecologies 2.4 (2021): 18.

[9]. Liang, Mei, et al. Response of temperate forest ecosystem services to rainfall: A case study in the forest nature reserves of northern China. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 11 (2023): 1132396.

[10]. Jiao, Yue, et al. Biophysical effects of temperate forests in regulating regional temperature and precipitation pattern across Northeast China. Remote Sensing 13.23 (2021): 4767.

[11]. Thomas, S. C., G. Malczewski, and M. Saprunoff. Assessing the potential of native tree species for carbon sequestration forestry in Northeast China. Journal of Environmental Management 85.3 (2007): 663-671.

[12]. Xiao-Ying, Wang, Zhao Chun-Yu, and Jia Qing-Yu. Impacts of climate change on forest ecosystems in Northeast China. Advances in Climate Change Research 4.4 (2013): 230-241.

[13]. Ma, Jun, et al. Predicting impacts of climate change on the aboveground carbon sequestration rate of a temperate forest in northeastern China. PLoS one 9.4 (2014): e96157.

[14]. Xia, Tian, et al. Modeling the spatio-temporal changes in land uses and its impacts on ecosystem services in Northeast China over 2000–2050. Journal of Geographical Sciences 28.11 (2018): 1611-1625.

[15]. Zhu, Biao, et al. Altitudinal changes in carbon storage of temperate forests on Mt Changbai, Northeast China. Journal of plant research 123.4 (2010): 439-452.

References

[1]. Fu, Yuanyuan, et al. Assessing the impact of climate warming on tree species composition and distribution in the forest region of Northeast China. Frontiers in Plant Science 15 (2024): 1430025.

[2]. Hai, Yue, et al. Quantifying the impact of precipitation fluctuations on forest growth in Northeast China. Frontiers in Plant Science 16 (2025): 1570005.

[3]. Yang, Xiguang, et al. Impacts of Climate Change on Forest Biodiversity Changes in Northeast China. Remote Sensing 16.21 (2024): 4058.

[4]. Zhao, Junhao, et al. Spring Temperature Accumulation is a primary driver of forest disease and pest occurrence in China in the Context of Climate Change. Forests 14.9 (2023): 1730.

[5]. Sun, Jianfeng, et al. Estimation and simulation of forest carbon stock in northeast China forestry based on future climate change and LUCC. Remote Sensing 14.15 (2022): 3653.

[6]. Huang, Chao, et al. Effects of forest management practices on carbon dynamics of China's boreal forests under changing climates. Journal of Environmental Management 335 (2023): 117497.

[7]. Lan, Jie, et al. Stand density, climate and biodiversity jointly regulate the multifunctionality of natural forest ecosystems in northeast China. European Journal of Forest Research 142.3 (2023): 493-507.

[8]. Yang, Haijiang, Xiaohua Gou, and Dingcai Yin. Response of biodiversity, ecosystems, and ecosystem services to climate change in China: A Review. Ecologies 2.4 (2021): 18.

[9]. Liang, Mei, et al. Response of temperate forest ecosystem services to rainfall: A case study in the forest nature reserves of northern China. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 11 (2023): 1132396.

[10]. Jiao, Yue, et al. Biophysical effects of temperate forests in regulating regional temperature and precipitation pattern across Northeast China. Remote Sensing 13.23 (2021): 4767.

[11]. Thomas, S. C., G. Malczewski, and M. Saprunoff. Assessing the potential of native tree species for carbon sequestration forestry in Northeast China. Journal of Environmental Management 85.3 (2007): 663-671.

[12]. Xiao-Ying, Wang, Zhao Chun-Yu, and Jia Qing-Yu. Impacts of climate change on forest ecosystems in Northeast China. Advances in Climate Change Research 4.4 (2013): 230-241.

[13]. Ma, Jun, et al. Predicting impacts of climate change on the aboveground carbon sequestration rate of a temperate forest in northeastern China. PLoS one 9.4 (2014): e96157.

[14]. Xia, Tian, et al. Modeling the spatio-temporal changes in land uses and its impacts on ecosystem services in Northeast China over 2000–2050. Journal of Geographical Sciences 28.11 (2018): 1611-1625.

[15]. Zhu, Biao, et al. Altitudinal changes in carbon storage of temperate forests on Mt Changbai, Northeast China. Journal of plant research 123.4 (2010): 439-452.

Cite this article

Lin,H. (2025). Forests in Peril: Climate Change, Biodiversity Loss, and Carbon Sink Decline in Northeast China. Theoretical and Natural Science,141,51-57.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of ICBioMed 2025 Symposium: AI for Healthcare: Advanced Medical Data Analytics and Smart Rehabilitation

ISBN: 978-1-80590-395-6(Print) / 978-1-80590-396-3(Online)
Editor: Alan Wang
Conference website: https://2025.icbiomed.org/auckland.html
Conference date: 17 October 2025
Series: Theoretical and Natural Science
Volume number: Vol.141
ISSN: 2753-8818(Print) / 2753-8826(Online)

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