Objective This study aims to gain an in-depth understanding of the status of forest carbon sink in China, clarify the spatial connections and spillover mechanisms among forest carbon sink value production across provinces, improve the management level of forest carbon sink management, optimize the management mode of carbon sink value, and promote the high-quality development of forests in China.

Method Based on the data of the 8th and9th National Forest Resources Inventories, the forest carbon sink value in China during 2013—2018 was estimated using the forest stock expansion method. Social network analysis was employed to analyze the spillover effects and ecological aggregation effects of forest carbon sinks, and corresponding the value management strategies were discussed.

Result (1) From 2013 to 2018, China's forest carbon stock and carbon sink both increased significantly. From 2013 to 2018, the value of forest carbon sink in China was 154.564 billion RMB yuan, the average annual physical increase of forest carbon sink was 217 million t, and the average annual monertary value increase of forest carbon sink was 27.217 billion RMB yuan. (2) The overall density of forest carbon sink value association network is 0.273 1, which is not high, but the network correlation degree is 1, reflecting that the overall network access is good and the network correlation degree is high; The level of forest carbon sink value correlation network is 0.426 6, which reflects a relatively high degree of concentration in the production of forest carbon sink value in different provinces, and there is the possibility of mutual spillover between the networks. The efficiency of carbon sink value correlation network is 0.632 2, which reflects the high efficiency of network information transmission, and also indicates that the network has good accessibility and certain stability. (3) There are “strong provinces” in the forest carbon sink value association network, such as Inner Mongolia, Hubei, Anhui and other provinces, the network betweenness is higher, that is 160.83, 106.79 and 54.09, respectively, far exceeding the national average of 19.91 forest carbon sink value association network betweenness. These provinces are in the core and bridge position in the association network, and there is an ecological aggregation effect, but the overall spillover capacity needs to be improved.

Conclusion The study found that the production of forest carbon sink value in China shows a significant spatial correlation, specifically manifested as an ecological linkage effect, and has formed a carbon sink “growth pole” with a radiation-driven effect.. In terms of management, the comprehensive management of “classified management + regional cooperation” should be adopted to promote high-quality forest development. At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen the understanding of the value association network of forest carbon sinks, and use the “growth pole” of forest carbon sink production to drive the overall network to “general growth”, promote the ecological aggregation effect, and maximize the value of forest carbon sink in China.