Does transportation accessibility achieve sustainable forestry? Assess the impact of highway construction on rural forest resources

Introduction Enhancing transportation accessibility is often viewed as a catalyst for rural revitalization, yet its compatibility with sustainable forestry remains a critical challenge. This study examines the impact of highway construction on rural forest resources in China’s underdeveloped regions. Methods Using town-level transportation and forestry data from 2009 to 2019, we exploit spatial variation in highway openings and implement a difference-in-differences (DID) framework. To address endogeneity concerns, we further employ an instrumental variable (IV) strategy based on hypothetical least-cost path spanning tree networks. Dynamic specifications and multiple validity checks are used to ensure causal interpretation. Results We find a significant negative spatial spillover effect of highway openings. Specifically, highways built in neighboring townships substantially reduce forest cover in townships that lack direct highway access, whereas the construction of non-highway roads has no statistically discernible effect. This adverse impact is transient and gradually attenuates over time. Mechanism analyses grounded in a core–periphery framework show that highways lower transportation costs and accelerate the outflow of timber and ecological capital from peripheral rural areas to central markets. Heterogeneity analyses indicate that forest loss is most pronounced near highway exits, in commercially valuable broadleaf forests, and in regions dominated by timber extraction and tourism but lacking institutional protection. Ecologically, highway-induced deforestation significantly increases greenhouse gas emissions by weakening carbon sinks, while effects on vehicle exhaust pollutants are negligible. Discussion Our findings highlight a trade-off between infrastructure-led connectivity and ecological sustainability. Achieving rural revitalization without exacerbating environmental degradation requires differentiated infrastructure investment and stronger ecological governance, particularly in peripheral rural areas vulnerable to market-driven deforestation.