Carbon flux in forest ecosystems: What happens if we stop managing our forests

The Paris agreement in 20215 aims for a limited temperature increase of 1.5 to 2 degrees versus the preindustrial time (1850). In achieving this goal by 2050, the emissions from agriculture, industry, traffic and other sources have to be reduced by enhancing the energy efficiency, and the replacement of fossil energy with green energy sources such as wind, solar etc. This change is difficult and requires time. A method which may be put in place immediately is the carbon capture and storage through forest growth. Thus, forests are seen as a “technology” which is in place and until the new “green” technologies are available they can buffer large amounts of carbon. Forests carbon storage can be increased by (i) afforestation and (ii) no harvesting operations for a limited time. Based on this the following challenges for forest management are important: 1. What consequences in the development of the carbon pools result from a limited period of not utilizing forest products from managed forests 2. What impacts for deadwood development including a carbon release from deadwood have to be considered for a limited or unlimited protection of managed forests.