Reasonable　assessment　of　the　environmental　benefits　of　integrating　forest　products　into　global　value　chains　(GVCs)　is　important　to　promote　sustainable　development.　Based　on　the　forest　product　sector　data　for　41　countries　from　2002　to　2014,　this　paper　explores　the　impact　of　GVC　participation　on　carbon　embodied　in　exports　using　the　2008　financial　crisis,　a　quasi-natural　experiment　of　negative　global　value　chain　shocks.　We　found　that　deepening　backward　participation　in　forest　product　value　chains　led　to　more　substantial　increases　in　carbon　emissions　than　did　forward　participation.　Countries　with　large　decreases　in　GVC　participation　reduced　more　carbon　embodied　in　forest　product　exports　after　the　financial　crisis　(relative　to　countries　with　small　decreases)　through　a　larger　reduction　in　the　scale　of　forest　product　exports,　and　a　decrease　in　the　growth　rate　of　capital-intensive　products　as　a　result　of　the　relative　decline　in　capital　investment.　They　increased　the　embodied　carbon　of　exports　through　a　decrease　in　the　growth　rate　of　skilled　personnel.　Strengthening　the　technology　effect　of　GVCs　with　the　guidance　of　skilled　forestry　personnel　is　a　key　way　to　decrease　exported　embodied　carbon.　©　Forest　Products　Society　2023.