The session “The role of forest management and soils in meeting climate change mitigation goals”, initiated by a group of HoliSoils researchers, invites global contributions, both experimental and modeling, to explore the effects of forest management on soil carbon sequestration and related processes.

The EGU General Assembly 2024 unites global geoscientists across Earth, planetary, and space sciences. Serving as a platform, the EGU fosters collaboration, enabling scientists, particularly early career researchers, to showcase their work and engage in discussions with experts across diverse geoscience disciplines.

 

Forests play a crucial role in the Earth’s carbon cycle by storing approximately 50% of the world’s organic carbon. Despite the urgency for a comprehensive understanding, significant knowledge gaps persist, especially in balancing soil carbon and greenhouse gas exchanges. The effectiveness of climate-smart forestry practices depends on management characteristics, recovery time, and site-specific conditions, including soil and climatic factors. Additionally, there is inconsistency in how various forest management practices address soil carbon loss after natural disturbances. Integrating the effects of forest management on soil into decision-making models is crucial for avoiding oversights in policies aiming for carbon neutrality.

 

The session welcomes contributions, both experimental and modeling, from global forests. These contributions aim to explore the current knowledge regarding the impact of forest management on soil carbon sequestration and other processes. The ultimate goal is to develop strategies for effective climate change mitigation rooted in forest management practices. This session encourages in-depth exploration of various topics related to the effects of forest management on ecosystems. Key areas of focus encompass advancing knowledge on soil carbon sequestration, greenhouse gas balances, biodiversity, nutrient stocks, organic matter quality, water resources, and stabilization processes. Additionally, there is an emphasis on enhancing our understanding of the impacts of both natural disturbances and preventive forest management practices on soil functioning and resilience. Lastly, the session seeks contributions to improve the comprehension of modeling techniques, specifically examining the potential of forest management in mitigating climate change.