Measure the chest circumference of the bamboo! Why did "green actuaries" gather in the bamboo forest to "compete"?

9.8 cm, 10.2 cm... In the bamboo forest of Anji County, Zhejiang Province, a unique competition is underway. At the scene, a group of young people dressed in green competition uniforms held a DBH ruler and carefully measured the "chest circumference" of the bamboo, and determined the bamboo age by carefully observing the appearance of the bamboo.

This is the first vocational skills competition for carbon sink measurement assessors and employees in Zhejiang Province, sponsored by the Zhejiang Province Federation of Trade Unions and organized by Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Zhejiang Province Ecological and Environmental Restoration Technology Association and other units. It is also the first skills competition of this category in the country. Green guardians from all over Zhejiang Province gathered together in this bamboo forest to compete for a "green future."

Starting from 100 square bamboo forests, complete closed-loop testing

As the "double carbon" strategy continues to advance, a new green profession-"carbon sink measurement assessor" emerged. Carbon sink measurement assessors need to have the capabilities of field investigation, field calculation, and report preparation. This competition is also designed around these three aspects, and is divided into theoretical testing and practical operation.

The theoretical questions involve three parts, including national "double carbon" related policies, CCER afforestation carbon sink methodology, and forest carbon sink measurement and monitoring related knowledge. The practical operation process forms a closed-loop test that integrates measurement data, calculation data based on models, and then analysis and compilation of carbon reserves measurement reports.

The practical evaluation of carbon sink measurement is full of challenges. In order to highlight the professionalism of this competition, Professor Wang Yixiang, the technical leader of the competition and deputy dean of the School of Carbon Neutralization of Zhejiang A & F University, invested a lot of energy in preliminary research and design.

What are the test for the sample survey? What are the assessment criteria? "In practical operation, the most critical thing is to set up sample plots that can represent the average state of forest stands, but the difficulty of setting up sample plots is far greater than the sample plot survey itself. Taking into account the level of the players and the limitations of the competition time, this competition examines the investigation work after setting up a sample site." Wang Yixiang explained to a reporter from China Environment News.

Under the order of the chief referee, 52 players from 13 representative teams entered the 100-square-meter bamboo forest sample land and found the corresponding bamboo according to the number drawn in advance. Everyone worked together to conduct an investigation, measured the breast height of each bamboo, and recorded the bamboo number, breast height and age in the survey record form. Each referee supervises two representative teams to judge the standardization and proficiency of the players 'operations.

Subsequently, the contestants came to the computer room, used the newly measured data to calculate the carbon reserves of the bamboo forest sample plot, and compiled a carbon reserve measurement report. The judges scored based on the recorded data in terms of completion time, plant number accuracy, DBH accuracy, age accuracy and other aspects.

The contestants are measuring and the interviewees provide pictures.

"The compilation of carbon storage measurement reports tests the professional ability of the players. A complete carbon reserves measurement report should include the time, location and survey method of the sample site survey, the carbon reserves measurement method, data processing process and measurement results, as well as the analysis of the results, conclusions and suggestions. For example, it is necessary to clearly describe the investigation method, analyze its age structure, determine the quality of the bamboo forest sample land, and make suggestions for increasing foreign exchange." Wang Yixiang told reporters: "The reports compiled by most players are complete and standardized, while some are relatively simple and lack conclusions or suggestions."

"Overall, the score is good. The highest score in the theoretical exam is 98 points and the lowest is 72 points. More than 20 players have a comprehensive score of more than 90 points. In terms of field surveys, data collection is completed in as short as 5 minutes, and the measurement data errors are very small." As the chief referee, Wang Yixiang is very pleased with the results of the competition.

Find out the "carbon" background and have broad prospects for professional development

In June 2022, the carbon sink measurement assessor was included in the "People's Republic of China Occupational Classification Ceremony (2022 edition), which is mainly engaged in carbon sink monitoring and measurement in forests, wetlands, grasslands and other ecosystems. Currently, the country is also accelerating the development of national professional standards for carbon sink measurement assessors.

Bamboo forest carbon sink is a forestry carbon sink with China characteristics. Anji County is a bamboo township in China and a national forestry carbon sink pilot county. As early as 2010, Anji County began to explore bamboo forest carbon sinks; in 2021, the country's first county-level bamboo forest carbon sink storage and storage trading platform will be launched to promote carbon sink trading into the market. At the same time, we will develop comprehensive digital applications of bamboo carbon sinks, establish six major scenarios including bamboo carbon background, carbon storage and storage, and carbon trading, and monitor the county's bamboo carbon sink storage, storage and trading in real time.

Relying on bamboo, ecological resources are transformed into ecological economy. At present, Anji County has established 119 village joint-stock bamboo professional cooperatives, with a total of 843,000 acres of bamboo forest transferred, a total of 25,000 tons of carbon sink transactions and 21,000 tons of donations; the joint wealth dividend of carbon sink projects is 300 million yuan, and the annual carbon sink is expected to reach 340,000 tons. These results not only reflect Anji's leading position in the field of carbon sink measurement and assessment, but also provide valuable experience for carbon sink exploration.

The main task of carbon sink measurement assessors is to find out the "carbon" background. At present, the development of bamboo carbon sinks is very mature and stable. With the continuous advancement of "double carbon" work, various ecological carbon sinks such as wetland carbon sinks and ocean carbon sinks are continuously improving and developing, requiring a large number of carbon sink measurement assessors to complete the preliminary investigation work, and its development prospects are broad.

"How much carbon reserves does a mountain, a forest, or a town have? How much carbon sinks are there in a year? How much carbon sinks are available for CCER afforestation carbon sink projects? Behind these issues, they have profoundly affected the accuracy of carbon sink assessment and the fairness of carbon sink trading. The carbon sink measurement assessors rely on their professional knowledge and skills to accurately evaluate and answer these questions, providing strong support for the realization of the 'double carbon' goal." Wang Yixiang said.

The Vocational Skills Competition for Carbon Sink Measurement Assessor has been included in one of the ten key competitions in Zhejiang Province this year. The reporter was concerned that its participating teams were diverse, with employees from multiple systems such as forestry, energy, and electricity in Zhejiang Province participating. This is also in line with Professor Wang Yixiang's wish: "I hope that more non-forestry system people can learn to measure trees, understand carbon sinks, cultivate a group of high-quality carbon sink talents, and jointly promote the professional development of the carbon sink measurement and evaluation industry."

Wang Yixiang said: "From last year's first Carbon Emission Accounting Administrator Vocational Skills Competition in Zhejiang Province to this year's first Carbon Measurement Assessor Vocational Skills Competition in Zhejiang Province, we will continue to pay attention to the fields of carbon sink measurement and assessment and green development every year, and gradually deepen the vocational skills training and competition system under the 'double carbon' goal. Through such measures, we can not only stimulate the innovative vitality and professional potential of employees, but also lead the new trend of green occupations and lay a solid skills path for green and low-carbon transformation."