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Economic and Societal Losses Due to Environmental Impacts on Forestry...
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Economic and Societal Losses Due to Environmental Impacts on Forestry Productivity

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Economics, Policy, and Social Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 January 2023) | Viewed by 21420

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Noriko Sato

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agro-Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819‐0395, Japan
Interests: forest policy; rural development; disaster mitigation; small-scale forestry; societal resilience
Prof. Dr. Tetsuhiko Yoshimura

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, Shimane University, Matsue 690-0823, Japan
Interests: forest utilization; forestry mechanization; information technology in forestry; forest education and tourism

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Global warming is causing frequent droughts, forest fires and heavy rain damage, resulting in economic and societal losses. Meanwhile, in some regions and countries, inappropriate mechanization and infrastructure development in forestry under pressure to be profitable have had negative impacts on local communities and economics, including the degradation of the forest environment. The forms of disasters, the scale of economic losses and the types of social losses also vary depending on natural conditions such as climate and topography, as well as on the social structure. This Special Issue plans to provide an overview of the most recent advances in the field of forest conservation, forest utilization and disaster sociology in diverse areas. Specifically, it aims to provide selected papers to further the discussion between the natural and social sciences towards disaster-resilient forestry.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Characteristics of current forest disasters and the mechanisms;
  • Countermeasures for disaster risk reduction in forestry under climate change;
  • Forest operation systems and road network planning resistant to natural disasters;
  • Assessment of environmental impacts of current forestry activities on local communities;
  • Possibilities and strategies for disaster-resilient forestry.

Prof. Dr. Noriko Sato
Prof. Dr. Tetsuhiko Yoshimura
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • forestry operation
  • clearcutting
  • forest disaster
  • local community
  • disaster-resilient forestry
  • economic losses
  • forest mechanization
  • forest road network
  • torrential rain
  • forest policy

Published Papers (14 papers)

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Editorial

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6 pages, 667 KiB  
Editorial
Post-Restoration Forest Management Issues in East Asia under Climate Change: Based on the Special Issue “Economic and Societal Losses Due to Environmental Impacts on Forestry Productivity”
by Noriko Sato and Tetsuhiko Yoshimura
Forests 2023, 14(9), 1845; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14091845 - 11 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1008
Abstract
Forests provide diverse ecosystem services to people. Consequently, initiatives have been undertaken to restore deforested areas. In East Asian countries, particularly those within the Asian Monsoon region, deforestation has contributed to natural disasters such as sediment run-off, landslides, and flooding, which are exacerbated [...] Read more.
Forests provide diverse ecosystem services to people. Consequently, initiatives have been undertaken to restore deforested areas. In East Asian countries, particularly those within the Asian Monsoon region, deforestation has contributed to natural disasters such as sediment run-off, landslides, and flooding, which are exacerbated by torrential rainfall. Restoring forest cover is a critical aspect of national land conservation. To achieve this goal, state-led afforestation initiatives have been launched. Successful afforestation efforts have also been considered an indicator of economic development. However, Japan, which implemented afforestation projects successfully in the 1950s and 1970s, has experienced the under-utilization of its forests due to significant changes in economic and societal conditions since afforestation took place. During the 2010s, the Japanese government promoted the industrialization of forestry, encouraging final felling and reforestation. However, there have been issues with immature forest operation methods and low forestry productivity. Furthermore, in the context of intensifying climate change, heavy rainfall-induced disasters have become more intense, with an increased threat to human safety. Research efforts from the natural and social science fields in Japan have helped identify issues that need to be addressed concerning forests where plantation trees are now utilizable. There is a need to identify improved methods of forestry practice that reduce the risk of climate change-related disasters and establish related forest policies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic and Societal Losses Due to Environmental Impacts on Forestry Productivity)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

17 pages, 8122 KiB  
Article
Assessing the Productivity of Forest Harvesting Systems Using a Combination of Forestry Machines in Steep Terrain
by Tetsuhiko Yoshimura, Yasushi Suzuki and Noriko Sato
Forests 2023, 14(7), 1430; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14071430 - 12 Jul 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1252
Abstract
Despite similarly steep terrain, the productivity of forest harvesting operations in Japan is lower than in Central Europe. Harvesting systems in Japan are typically characterized by the four production processes of felling, yarding, processing, and forwarding, whereas in Central Europe they have mostly [...] Read more.
Despite similarly steep terrain, the productivity of forest harvesting operations in Japan is lower than in Central Europe. Harvesting systems in Japan are typically characterized by the four production processes of felling, yarding, processing, and forwarding, whereas in Central Europe they have mostly been reduced to just two through the use of a PTY (Processor Tower Yarder). This study investigated the number of production processes as a reason for the relatively lower productivity of forest harvesting in Japan using the Combined Machine Productivity (CMP) and Combined Labor Productivity (CLP) indices. The CMP and CLP were 1.81 m3/h and 0.45 m3/worker/h, respectively, for a parallel production model based on a typical Japanese forest harvesting system in Japan. The CMP and CLP values were improved to 2.51 m3/h and 0.63 m3/worker/h, respectively, when the forwarding process was removed from the model. The CMP and CLP values were further improved to 3.04 m3/h and 0.76 m3/worker/h, respectively, when yarding and processing were integrated into a single process. Reducing the number of the production processes can therefore improve the productivity of forest harvesting operations in Japan. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic and Societal Losses Due to Environmental Impacts on Forestry Productivity)
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11 pages, 5228 KiB  
Article
Possibilities of Using UAV for Estimating Earthwork Volumes during Process of Repairing a Small-Scale Forest Road, Case Study from Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
by Hisashi Hasegawa, Azwar Azmillah Sujaswara, Taisei Kanemoto and Kazuya Tsubota
Forests 2023, 14(4), 677; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14040677 - 24 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1097
Abstract
Although forest road networks are an important infrastructure for forestry, recreation, and sustainable forest management, they have a considerable effect on the environment. Therefore, a detailed analysis of the various benefits and associated costs of road network construction is needed. The cost of [...] Read more.
Although forest road networks are an important infrastructure for forestry, recreation, and sustainable forest management, they have a considerable effect on the environment. Therefore, a detailed analysis of the various benefits and associated costs of road network construction is needed. The cost of earthwork in road construction can be estimated based on the change in topography before and after construction. However, accurate estimation of the earthwork volume may not be possible on steep terrain where soil placement is limited. In this study, an unmanned aerial vehicle was flown under the tree canopy six times during a road repair work to measure the changes in topography using structure from motion analysis. Comparing the obtained 3D model with the measurement results from the total station, the average vertical error and root mean square error were −0.146 m and 0.098 m, respectively, suggesting its good accuracy for measuring an earthwork volume. Compared to the amount of earthwork estimated from the topographic changes before and after the repair work, the actual earthwork volume was 3.5 times greater for cutting and 1.9 times greater for filling. This method can be used to calculate the earthwork volume accurately for designing forest road networks on steep terrain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic and Societal Losses Due to Environmental Impacts on Forestry Productivity)
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19 pages, 8131 KiB  
Article
The Process and Challenges of Resident-Led Reconstruction in a Mountain Community Damaged by the Northern Kyushu Torrential Rain Disaster: A Case Study of the Hiraenoki Community, Asakura City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
by Yoshio Harada, Ai Ichinose, Tatsuya Owake, Kazuo Asahiro, Noriko Sato and Takahiro Fujiwara
Forests 2023, 14(4), 664; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14040664 - 23 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1331
Abstract
Frequent torrential rainfall disasters have occurred worldwide in recent years. In Japan, the Northern Kyushu Torrential Rainfall disaster in July 2017 caused extensive damage to Fukuoka and Oita prefectures and significantly impacted local landscapes, from which residents derive pride and identity and, hence, [...] Read more.
Frequent torrential rainfall disasters have occurred worldwide in recent years. In Japan, the Northern Kyushu Torrential Rainfall disaster in July 2017 caused extensive damage to Fukuoka and Oita prefectures and significantly impacted local landscapes, from which residents derive pride and identity and, hence, are of the utmost importance. Local communities in Japan are also at risk of extinction due to progressive depopulation. This study discusses community revitalization through landscape creation and related challenges based on the case of the Hiraenoki Community affected by the Northern Kyushu Torrential Rainfall disaster. We conducted long-term participant observations over two years and semi-structured interviews with all households in the community. We found that the landscape project revitalized local pride and involved numerous people outside the community, including the prefectural extension center, university, and Non-Profit Organization (NPO), and provided them with an opportunity to connect. On the other hand, our investigation also revealed the danger of obscuring the original purpose of reconstruction activities because of collaboration with outsiders. This case study elucidates the possibilities and challenges of resident-led reconstruction activities in communities that are facing depopulation and aging problems and are working with organizations within and outside the community. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic and Societal Losses Due to Environmental Impacts on Forestry Productivity)
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16 pages, 857 KiB  
Article
Current Status and Challenges for Forest Commons (Iriai Forest) Management in Japan: A Focus on Forest Producers’ Cooperatives and Authorized Neighborhood Associations
by Masahiko Ota
Forests 2023, 14(3), 572; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14030572 - 13 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1398
Abstract
Iriai forests are an example of communal forest management in Japan. Local institutions have never been static in governing iriai forests and the external environments of iriai forests have changed significantly over time. This study examines the management challenges of forest producers’ cooperatives [...] Read more.
Iriai forests are an example of communal forest management in Japan. Local institutions have never been static in governing iriai forests and the external environments of iriai forests have changed significantly over time. This study examines the management challenges of forest producers’ cooperatives (FPCs) and authorized neighborhood associations (ANAs) as the two most important contemporary forms of iriai forest management. Data from nine FPCs and three ANAs in the Fukuoka and Saga prefectures of Kyushu Island are used. Surveyed topics included basic information about FPCs and ANAs, recent management activities, financial conditions, and member perceptions of forest management. Some FPCs suffered from disadvantageous forestry circumstances, including low timber prices, decreased number of members, and tax burdens; at the same time, some FPCs greatly profited from non-forestry income or assets, e.g., by leasing or selling forestland. In most cases, basic forest management operations had been conducted by both FPCs and ANAs, and members had maintained attachment to and responsibility for iriai forests and a sense of public contribution. Policy recommendations include making legal settings and administrative supports more compatible with contemporary realities, providing greater financial support for management activities, and pursuing multi-level governance to open the commons to wider society. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic and Societal Losses Due to Environmental Impacts on Forestry Productivity)
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18 pages, 4876 KiB  
Article
Rain-Driven Failure Risk on Forest Roads around Catchment Landforms in Mountainous Areas of Japan
by Masaru Watanabe, Masashi Saito, Kenichiro Toda and Hiroaki Shirasawa
Forests 2023, 14(3), 537; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14030537 - 09 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1382
Abstract
Although the causes of and impacts against forest road failure differ according to the type of damage that occurs, the statistical understanding of the trends in the type of failure is insufficient. In this study, we collected data on 526 forest road failures [...] Read more.
Although the causes of and impacts against forest road failure differ according to the type of damage that occurs, the statistical understanding of the trends in the type of failure is insufficient. In this study, we collected data on 526 forest road failures due to heavy rainfall during 2006–2010 in the mountainous regions of Japan and statistically analyzed the characteristics. The forest roads covered in this study include those used primarily for timber extraction as well as those used for public purposes. Forest road segments were classified into four categories: streamside, stream crossings, zero-order basin, and others, and comparisons were made regarding the length of damage, the relative probability of occurrence, repair costs, and induced rainfall intensity in each category. Streamside segments accounted for only 15% of the total length of routes analyzed but 42% of all damaged segments. Furthermore, the relative risk of the streamside segments was about 6.0 times higher than that of the other categories of segments, indicating that they were the most likely to be damaged in this analysis. It is clear that the most important issue in the target area is to prevent damage to streamside segments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic and Societal Losses Due to Environmental Impacts on Forestry Productivity)
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20 pages, 6463 KiB  
Article
Verification of Structural Strength of Spur Roads Constructed Using a Locally Developed Method for Mountainous Areas: A Case Study in Kochi University Forest, Japan
by Yasushi Suzuki, Shouma Hashimoto, Haruka Aoki, Ituski Katayama and Tetsuhiko Yoshimura
Forests 2023, 14(2), 380; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14020380 - 13 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1850
Abstract
Owing to steep terrain and complicated geology, constructing spur roads with low cost and sufficient strength is crucial for sustainable forest management in Japan. The Shimanto method was developed for making narrow spur roads robust against collapse around the 2000s in the Shimanto [...] Read more.
Owing to steep terrain and complicated geology, constructing spur roads with low cost and sufficient strength is crucial for sustainable forest management in Japan. The Shimanto method was developed for making narrow spur roads robust against collapse around the 2000s in the Shimanto geology belt area, where the strata were slanted because of an accretion wedge. Kochi University Forest adopted this method and constructed some routes of spur roads in the 2010s. In the present study, we assessed the performance of this method in terms of the roadbed strength and bearing capacity. Two routes were selected, namely Sites 1 and 2, constructed in 2013–2016 and 2019–2021, and tested in 2017 and 2021, respectively. The roadbed strength was measured up to a depth of 100 cm using a handy dynamic cone penetrometer with a rammer of 5 kg. The results showed that the roadbed strength of the embankment side was weaker than that of the cut slope side, although the method was supposed to compact the roadbeds equally over the road width. However, most of the roadbeds had sufficient strength; the younger ones tended to have lower strength than the older ones, and the same tendency was observed for the bearing capacity. It was suggested that the soil under the road width should be excavated more widely toward the cut slope side before compaction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic and Societal Losses Due to Environmental Impacts on Forestry Productivity)
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20 pages, 1649 KiB  
Article
Examination of Social Factors Affecting Private Forest Owners’ Future Intentions for Forest Management in Miyazaki Prefecture: A Comparison of Regional Characteristics by Forest Ownership Size
by Nariaki Onda, Shunsuke Ochi and Nobuyuki Tsuzuki
Forests 2023, 14(2), 309; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14020309 - 04 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1182
Abstract
Although Japan’s planted forest resources are mature, efficient timber production and reforest postharvest are hindered by the small-scale forest ownership and private forest owners’ (PFOs’) low willingness to engage in forest management. A New Scheme of Forest Management (NSFM) has been established under [...] Read more.
Although Japan’s planted forest resources are mature, efficient timber production and reforest postharvest are hindered by the small-scale forest ownership and private forest owners’ (PFOs’) low willingness to engage in forest management. A New Scheme of Forest Management (NSFM) has been established under which Japan’s municipalities can aggregate forest management rights which PFOs with low future intentions for forest management. Therefore, this study explores the socioeconomic factors that determine PFOs’ future intentions for forest management and examines NSFM challenges. PFOs were surveyed via questionnaires in two regions of Miyazaki Prefecture with different forest ownership sizes. The results showed that forest size and the presence of successors affect PFOs’ future intention for forest management. In addition, PFOs with low future intentions were less aware of their forests, and their forests were the source of reforest abandonment. Although aggregating forest management rights of PFOs with low future intention by the municipalities may contribute to sustainable forest management, the increased workload on municipalities is a challenge. Overall, accessibility to sufficient decision-making information is a prerequisite for evaluating PFOs’ future intention to manage their forests. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic and Societal Losses Due to Environmental Impacts on Forestry Productivity)
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18 pages, 793 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Measurement of Regional Forestry Eco-Efficiency and Influencing Factors in China Based on the Super-Efficient DEA-Tobit Two Stage Model
by Junlan Tan, Xiang Su and Rong Wang
Forests 2023, 14(2), 300; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14020300 - 03 Feb 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1274
Abstract
This paper adopts the super-efficient DEA (data envelopment analysis) model to measure the forestry eco-efficiency (FECO) of 30 Chinese provinces and cities from 2008 to 2021, and then introduces the Tobit model to explore the influencing factors of FECO to better understand the [...] Read more.
This paper adopts the super-efficient DEA (data envelopment analysis) model to measure the forestry eco-efficiency (FECO) of 30 Chinese provinces and cities from 2008 to 2021, and then introduces the Tobit model to explore the influencing factors of FECO to better understand the sustainable development level of forestry. It draws the following conclusions: (1) The average value of FECO in China is 0.504, which is still at a low level, and the FECO of each region has significant regional heterogeneity; the provinces with higher FECO are mainly concentrated in the eastern region, while the FECO of the central and western regions is lower; (2) In terms of the main factors affecting FECO in China, the regression coefficients of market-based environmental regulations are significantly positive in the national, eastern and central regions, while they are significantly negative in the western region. The coefficient of impact of scientific research funding investment on forestry industry eco-efficiency is negative and shows a significant promotion effect in the eastern region, but the elasticity coefficient in the central and western regions is negative but not significant. Economic development has a positive but insignificant effect on FECO, with the eastern region showing a positive correlation, while the central and western regions are insignificant. Industrial structure has a significant negative effect on FECO in the national, eastern and central regions, but the effect of industrial structure on FECO in the western region is not significant. The effect of foreign direct investment on FECO was negative for the national, central and western regions, but the central region did not pass the significance test, while the eastern region reflected a significant promotion effect. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic and Societal Losses Due to Environmental Impacts on Forestry Productivity)
12 pages, 1210 KiB  
Article
Economic and Environmental Analysis of Woody Biomass Power Generation Using Forest Residues and Demolition Debris in Japan without Assuming Carbon Neutrality
by Masaya Fujino and Masaya Hashimoto
Forests 2023, 14(1), 148; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14010148 - 12 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1756
Abstract
Despite the increasing importance of renewable energy worldwide, the argument that forest biomass power generation is not carbon neutral has been rising. This research used Gifu Biomass Power Co., Ltd. (GBP) in Japan as a case study to investigate this matter. An evaluation [...] Read more.
Despite the increasing importance of renewable energy worldwide, the argument that forest biomass power generation is not carbon neutral has been rising. This research used Gifu Biomass Power Co., Ltd. (GBP) in Japan as a case study to investigate this matter. An evaluation was conducted through an input–output analysis on the economic and environmental benefits (i.e., CO2 reduction) of forest biomass power generation without assuming carbon neutrality. GBP’s economic benefits were estimated to be 3452.18 million JPY during the construction period and 114.38 million JPY per year from operations. It was also estimated to generate 21.77 jobs per year in the forestry sector. CO2 emissions were estimated to increase by 423.02 tons during the construction period and 137,747 tons per year from operations. Although forests may offset CO2 by absorbing it, woody biomass power generation does not necessarily reduce CO2 emissions in Gifu Prefecture. The results indicate that woody biomass power generation is effective for the local economy but not necessarily for the global environment. The analysis should include more industrial sectors to clarify the environmental significance of wood biomass power generation without assuming carbon neutrality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic and Societal Losses Due to Environmental Impacts on Forestry Productivity)
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13 pages, 3938 KiB  
Article
Estimation of Extreme Daily Rainfall Probabilities: A Case Study in Kyushu Region, Japan
by Tadamichi Sato and Yasuhiro Shuin
Forests 2023, 14(1), 147; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14010147 - 12 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1805
Abstract
Extreme rainfall causes floods and landslides, and so damages humans and socioeconomics; for instance, floods and landslides have been triggered by repeated torrential precipitation and have caused severe damage in the Kyushu region, Japan. Therefore, evaluating extreme rainfall in Kyushu is necessary to [...] Read more.
Extreme rainfall causes floods and landslides, and so damages humans and socioeconomics; for instance, floods and landslides have been triggered by repeated torrential precipitation and have caused severe damage in the Kyushu region, Japan. Therefore, evaluating extreme rainfall in Kyushu is necessary to provide basic information for measures of rainfall-induced disasters. In this study, we estimated the probability of daily rainfall in Kyushu. The annual maximum values for daily rainfall at 23 long-record stations were normalized using return values at each station, corresponding to 2 and 10 years, and were combined by the station-year method. Additionally, the return period (RP) was calculated by fitting them to the generalized extreme value distribution. Based on the relationship between the normalized values of annual maximum daily rainfall and the RP, we obtained a regression equation to accurately estimate the RP up to 300 years by using data at given stations, considering outliers. In addition, we verified this equation using data from short-record stations where extreme rainfall events triggering floods and landslides were observed, and thereby elucidated that our method was consistent with previous techniques. Thus, this study develops strategies of measures for floods and landslides. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic and Societal Losses Due to Environmental Impacts on Forestry Productivity)
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15 pages, 1423 KiB  
Article
Dynamic Evaluation of Coupling and Coordinating Development of Environments and Economic Development in Key State-Owned Forests in Heilongjiang Province, China
by Xiangyue Liu, Muhammad Arif, Zhifang Wan and Zhenfeng Zhu
Forests 2022, 13(12), 2069; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13122069 - 04 Dec 2022
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 1166
Abstract
This study examines state-owned forest areas in Heilongjiang Province, China, and uses statistical data from 2011 to 2019 to evaluate the dynamic coupling and coordination relationship between the forest environment and economic development. The study aims to provide guidelines for the sustainable development [...] Read more.
This study examines state-owned forest areas in Heilongjiang Province, China, and uses statistical data from 2011 to 2019 to evaluate the dynamic coupling and coordination relationship between the forest environment and economic development. The study aims to provide guidelines for the sustainable development of forest areas. The study concludes that: (1) There is a significant interaction between the environment and economic development, which manifests in coercion and restriction effects during the ecological construction and economic development processes. (2) The forest area environment in 2011–2019, within the coupling and coordination relationship with economic development, was generally of a high quality. (3) Forest environment construction achieved remarkable results in 2011–2019 and benefitted from China’s new position on ecological restoration in key state-owned forest areas. (4) The economic development of forest areas after 2015 showed a lag, which restricted the level and progress in the coordinated development of the environment and the economies of the forest areas. (5) During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021–2025), the key state-owned forest areas still fully incorporated the strategic positioning of ecological protection and economic development coordination. This study provides countermeasures and suggestions to further improve the ecological and economic development of key state-owned forest areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic and Societal Losses Due to Environmental Impacts on Forestry Productivity)
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24 pages, 1449 KiB  
Article
What Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Disclosures Do Chinese Forestry Firms Make on Social Media? Evidence from WeChat
by Ma Zhong, Feifei Lu, Yunfu Zhu and Jingru Chen
Forests 2022, 13(11), 1842; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13111842 - 04 Nov 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1820
Abstract
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure serves as a vital bridge for forestry firms to communicate with their stakeholders and obtain legitimacy support. Existing studies focus on forestry firms’ CSR disclosures based on CSR reports but lack consideration of such disclosures on social media. [...] Read more.
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure serves as a vital bridge for forestry firms to communicate with their stakeholders and obtain legitimacy support. Existing studies focus on forestry firms’ CSR disclosures based on CSR reports but lack consideration of such disclosures on social media. In this study, based on WeChat, the most widely used social media platform in China, we obtained 3311 tweets from 36 WeChat Official Accounts (WOA) of 63 Chinese-listed forestry firms in 2018 and used content analysis to classify the CSR information involved in these tweets based on the stakeholder dimensions. The main analysis results show that the top three CSR dimensions disclosed by Chinese forestry firms in social media are the shareholder (28.21%), customer (26.20%), and employee (23.64%) dimensions, and there are also great differences in the subcontent of disclosure concerns in each stakeholder dimension, e.g., approximately 86% of CSR disclosures for customers are product and service information. Additionally, we conducted a content analysis on the CSR reports of forestry firms using WOA. The results show that firms express different concerns in CSR reports than on social media, and the most mentioned dimensions in their reports are the environment (23.69%), employees (20.91%), and shareholders (20.21%). This indicates that there is a significant difference between the stakeholders that Chinese forestry firms focus on in social media and those that they focus on in CSR reports. This paper is the first study to focus on the CSR disclosure of Chinese forestry firms in social media and provides a reference for scholars to understand the information activities of forestry firms in social media. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic and Societal Losses Due to Environmental Impacts on Forestry Productivity)
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23 pages, 1495 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Role of Forest Resources Abundance on Economic Development in the Yangtze River Delta Region: Application of Spatial Durbin SDM Model
by Qian Zhang, Decai Tang and Valentina Boamah
Forests 2022, 13(10), 1605; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13101605 - 30 Sep 2022
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 1536
Abstract
With the data of 41 cities, including urban and rural areas in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region from 2007 to 2019, this paper mainly uses the spatial econometric method to analyze the impact of forest resource abundance in the YRD region on [...] Read more.
With the data of 41 cities, including urban and rural areas in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region from 2007 to 2019, this paper mainly uses the spatial econometric method to analyze the impact of forest resource abundance in the YRD region on economic development under the background of carbon neutrality. Direct effects, indirect effects, and total effects are further decomposed. The main conclusions are as follows. (1) The abundance of forest resources in the YRD has a U-shaped non-linear effect on economic development, and the curse of forest resources will gradually form forest resource welfare with economic improvement. (2) The phenomenon of economic convergence exists in the YRD region. (3) The spatial effect of forest resource abundance on economic development is non-linear, and the increase in greenery and carbon reduction should be moderately reasonable. (4) The abundance of forest resources can also promote the development of green total factor productivity. The research in this paper complements the existing literature and provides a reference for policymakers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic and Societal Losses Due to Environmental Impacts on Forestry Productivity)
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