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Local Level Indicators > Operational-Scale Carbon Budget Model

With increasing concerns about climate change, carbon accounting is a significant environmental issue. Carbon-based greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into the atmosphere are changing the global climate. Forests can play two roles in GHG emissions since they can be both carbon source and carbon sink.

As a carbon source, forests can contribute to elevated GHG concentrations through the processes of deforestation, fire and insect outbreaks. As a carbon sink, forests can store carbon in living and dead biomass and in soils. Removing carbon from the atmosphere by storing it in forests is seen as a potential strategy for reducing GHG emissions in the atmosphere.

The Canadian Model Forest Network is taking steps to learn how forest management activities can contribute to the reduction of GHG concentrations in the atmosphere. A joint project between the Canadian Model Forest Network and the Carbon Accounting Team of the Canadian Forest Service has resulted in the development of a computer model that can be used to estimate the amount of carbon stored in forests, as well as assess the impact forest operations have on carbon stocks. Western Newfoundland and Lake Abitibi Model Forests were chosen as pilot sites to develop and test the carbon accounting prototype and are studying how the amount of carbon in their forests changes with different activity levels and forest management practices.

For more information about the Operational-Scale Carbon Budget Model, please contact:

Stephen Kull
Carbon Accounting Liaison Officer
Canadian Forest Service
skull@nrcan.gc.ca
(780) 435-7304

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