Research on the Accounting and Measurement of Forestry Carbon Sinks Following the Restart of the China Certified Emission Reduction Market

In the context of the China Certified Emission Reduction (CCER) market restart, accounting for forestry carbon sinks faces two challenges: ambiguous theoretical classification and the absence of sound measurement standards. To address the lack of reliable value benchmarks for initial measurement and the distortion of income statements caused by subsequent value fluctuations, this paper establishes an accounting measurement system incorporating the “Environmental Value Equivalence Method” and the “Dynamic Fair Value Adjustment Method” and introduces a dedicated “Environmental Equity Reserve” account. The “Environmental Value Equivalence Method” constructs a weighted average benchmark price using observable market inputs such as CEA and CCER prices, which is then adjusted by an ecological adjustment coefficient to establish an initial valuation anchor. For subsequent measurement, the “Dynamic Fair Value Adjustment Method” is applied, under which changes in fair value are recorded directly in the “Environmental Equity Reserve” account rather than in the income statement, thereby isolating unrealized gains and losses during the holding period from current period profit or loss. Using the afforestation carbon sink project in Honghe Prefecture as a case study and drawing on actual transaction data from the CCER market, the study demonstrates the complete operational process from initial recognition and subsequent adjustments to partial disposal. The findings offer a theoretically grounded and practically feasible solution for the accounting treatment of forestry carbon sinks under China’s CCER mechanism.