Managing forest carbon and landscape capacities

Abstract Widespread impacts of a warming planet are fuelling climate change mitigation efforts world-wide. Decision makers turning to forests, the largest terrestrial primary producer, as nature-based contribution efforts. Resource-based economies, however, have yet include carbon (C) in their resource planning, slowing implementation these important measures for atmospheric greenhouse gas reduction. The realisation forest potential depends greatly on our ability integrate C-sequestration practices management applications. This requires robust C-estimates, an understanding natural specific landscape sequester C, current state relative this potential, and evaluation tool C midst all other values forests offer humans. Discrepancies between models used decisions estimation first hurdle impeding application forest-based strategies. Here, we combine disturbance with well-established model open-source simulation platform. We then use modelling system produce estimates C-holding capacity (potential) two scenarios study area BC, Canada. Our simulations provide essential metric if be managed C-sequestration: capacity. also point decreasing trend simulated over time bias C-levels compared (477 vs 405.5 MtC). explanations may avenue improved C-state estimates. framework information needed solutions using mitigation. is step towards systems that can unify scientifically based informed C-management.