Carbon Sequestration and Storage in European Forests

Abstract

AbstractEuropean forests have been acting as a significant carbon sink for the last few decades. However, there are significant distinctions among the forest carbon sinks in different parts of Europe due to differences in the area and structure of the forests, and the harvesting intensity of these. In many European countries, the forest area has increased through natural forest expansion and the afforestation of low-productivity agricultural lands. Changing environmental conditions and improved forest management practices have also increased the carbon sequestration and storage in forests in different regions. The future development of carbon sequestration and storage in European forests will be affected both by the intensity of forest management and harvesting (related to future wood demand) and the severity of climate change and the associated increase in natural forest disturbances. Climate change may also affect the carbon dynamics of forests in different ways, depending on geographical region. Therefore, many uncertainties exist in the future development of carbon sequestration and storage in European forests, and their contribution to climate change mitigation. The demand for multiple ecosystem services, and differences in national and international strategies and policies (e.g. the European Green Deal, climate and biodiversity policies), may also affect the future development of carbon sinks in European forests.