Contacts: Steve Colombo, Michael Ter-Mikaelian, and Jiaxin Chen
 |
| Ontario's forests help mitigate climate change by storing large amounts of carbon in trees and soil |
Forests have a role to play in mitigating the effects of climate change, as they can store large amounts of carbon in plants and soil. But little is known about how much carbon is stored in Ontario’s managed forests and how forest management affects the release or absorption of greenhouse gases.
As a result, researchers have developed a carbon budget model for Ontario (FORCARB-ON) and are using it to determine the current and future forest carbon balance in Ontario’s managed forest using provincial forest resources inventory data and information about planned forest management activities.
This research will help the Ontario government more accurately account for carbon stored in Ontario’s forests at a range of scales, depending on what management practices are used.
Want to read more?
News article on OFRI's website:
Sink or source? Modelling carbon stocks in Ontario's forests
MNR/OFRI reports:
The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Large-Scale Forest Carbon Project: A Summary
The Effects of Forest Management on Carbon Storage in Ontario’s Forests
Carbon Storage in Ontario's Forests, 2000-2100
Ontario’s Forests and Forestry in a Changing Climate
Scientific journal articles with OFRI authors (available on other websites):
Forest bioenergy or forest carbon? Assessing trade-offs in greenhouse gas mitigation with wood-based fuels
Carbon Budget of Ontario's Managed Forests and Harvested Wood Products, 2001-2100
Future Carbon Storage in Harvested Wood Products From Ontario’s Crown Forests
Fact and Fantasy About Forest Carbon
