The influence of silviculture investment in fixed assets on forest water conservation in China

Forests play an important role in water conservation. It is important to study the relationship between forest water conservation (FWC) and forestry investment. Based on official statistics and ecological network observation data in China from 1999 to 2013, this paper for the first time uses correlation analysis and regression analysis methods to analyze the relationship between FWC and forest silviculture investment in fixed assets (FSIFA). Results show that FWC and FSIFA have a strong correlation and a strong influence, correlation coefficient is around 0.96. The amount of annual forest water conservation is increased with an increase in investment in fixed assets. The study also found that FSIFA affecting annual FWC lags more than 1 year, showing that FSIFA cannot play a role in water conservation immediately. The research also discussed other affecting factors on FWC, such as forest coverage rate, economic development level and forest quality improvement, etc. Their effects were also found to lag 1–5 years. Finally, the paper predicts the amount of annual FWC from 2014 to 2020 and gives some suggestions to strengthen investment in forest fixed assets and improve management of forest resources so as to promote the development of benefits of FWC.