A carbon budget model of the Canadian forest sector (CBM-CFS2), was modified to investigate past and possible future impacts of management on C sequestration in forest biomass, soils, and harvested wood products, for a forest management unit in the western Canadian Boreal–Cordilleran ecoregions. The model showed that total suppression of natural disturbances, and their replacement by harvesting for maximum sustainable yield, could lead to significant increases in ecosystem C storage (mainly in soils and wood products) over a period of 100–200 years in this region. This is primarily because the historical interval between disturbance events (primarily wildfire) is short compared with the harvest interval. The net gains in C storage, and the period over which they are sustainable, are sensitive to several key variables, including planned harvesting levels and the intensity of natural disturbances. A warmer climate could reduce total C storage as a result of greater soil decomposition, but it should not reverse the benefits attributable to management if disturbances are controlled. Extended rotation lengths increase total C storage significantly and may justify additional investment in protection

Climate change, carbon, adaptation planning, social capital