This collection of resources provides a foundation for learning about forest carbon.

Ecosystem carbon refers to the carbon stored in vegetation and soils in an ecosystem. Given that ecosystem carbon plays an important role in regulating the Earth’s climate by taking up and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide, natural resource professionals often consider carbon uptake and storage as a part of land management planning. Carbon considerations can be integrated into climate adaptation or mitigation plans. Managing forests and ecosystems for carbon benefits can also support other natural resources management objectives, such as timber supply, wildlife habitat, or water quality. This collection includes five topic pages that narrate introductory information on forest carbon and management for land managers, woodland owners, and other natural resources professionals. Additional resources are provided to help round out this foundational carbon knowledge.

Forests and the Global Carbon Cycle

Learn about the global carbon budget, including how land sinks and fossil fuel emissions affect carbon dioxide levels, forested carbon pools in the United States, and how carbon cycles naturally through the land and atmosphere.

Forest Carbon Uptake and Storage

Find out more about forested carbon pools, such as the size of different pools, duration of time carbon is within a specific pool, and the transfer of carbon between pools.

Forest Carbon Uptake and Storage Across Sites

Read about how carbon is influenced by forest characteristics such as stand age, tree species composition, structural diversity, soil properties, and climate, at a site-level scale.

Forest Management and Carbon Uptake and Storage

Learn about active forest management and carbon, with an emphasis on tree biomass, different spatial and time scales, harvested wood products, and minimizing carbon losses.

Natural Disturbance and Carbon Uptake and Storage

Read about the effects of different types of disturbances on forest carbon and ecosystem function, including fire, insects and disease, drought and extreme heat, and wind.

Additional Carbon Learning Resources

This collection of topic pages is intended to provide managers with foundational forest carbon knowledge. The following list of additional resources can be used to expand this knowledge base with greater details on carbon science, modeling, and introductory management applications.

Learn more about Forest Carbon Management and Adaptation Strategies and Approaches developed for forest managers integrating carbon into adaptation planning.