The document deals with the potential of Central European forests for carbon storage in a global context and highlights their important, but often underestimated, role in mitigating the adverse impacts of climate change. The main benefit of forests is their ability to sequester carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, preventing their accumulation in the atmosphere and contributing to climate change. The authors state that awareness of these findings is relatively low in the Czech Republic, and therefore this text summarizes the most important results and conclusions relevant for further discussion on the management and protection of forest habitats in the Czech Republic.

Although humid tropical forests are traditionally considered to be the most productive, it appears that even higher biomass production is achieved by some temperate forests between 30° and 50° north and south latitudesThese include mainly temperate rainforests, while the production of temperate forests in Central Europe is lower. Nevertheless the largest share of carbon sequestered in forests falls on temperate forests (47 %), while the share of tropical (22 %) and boreal (21 %) forests is significantly lower, also due to ongoing deforestation.

It can be assumed that the highest carbon stock is in forests where all the biomass created remains, i.e. in natural forests unaffected by direct human interventionThe difference in carbon stocks in natural and managed forests can thus show mitigation potential of forests (the maximum amount of "extra" carbon stored) that would be achieved if biomass was no longer harvested from managed forests. Based on data from various forest stands in Europe, it is estimated that The total stock of standing tree biomass has decreased by more than a third due to the conversion of European natural forests to commercial forests.This decrease in the amount of carbon "permanently" bound in European forests would gradually be replenished when biomass harvesting from commercial forests stops and represents mitigation potential of forests, which corresponds to the EU's 2030 carbon storage target. The carbon stock in cropland depends on management intensity and management methods and changes over time.

Carbon makes up approximately half of the dry matter of above-ground tree biomass. For every 1 m³ of their volume, trees consume on average about 1.28 t CO₂ from the atmosphereForests are among the most important natural carbon sinks on a global scale, currently bind about a quarter of CO₂ emissions. Addressing climate change requires a drastic reduction in CO₂ emissions and, at the same time, a significant increase in the sequestration and accumulation of already emitted CO₂ in natural ecosystems. Terrestrial ecosystems (mainly forests) accounted for 26 % carbon storage, while in the period 1990–1999 it was 32 %.

During the 20th century in the Czech Republic and other European countries the area of forests and their total stock have increased, which has strengthened the importance of forests in carbon storage. For example, in the Czech Republic, the total wood stock was estimated at 307 million m³ in 1930 and is currently almost 700 million m³. The average age of forests weighted by their area in the Czech Republic increased from 51 years in 1950 to 64 years in 2010. For carbon storage, it is important area of older forest stands with high total biomass and trees with a large unit volume. Forest stands older than 120 years, with a share of 6.0 %, contribute decisively (out of 78 %) to the total increase in the stock of wood biomass. However, the share of stands older than 100 years in Europe decreased from 26 % of forest area in 1950 to 17 % in 2010, which is an unfavorable development from the point of view of carbon storage.

Natural forests can accumulate surprisingly large carbon stocks compared to managed forests. In forests with little human influence in nutrient-rich habitats, their stocks can even exceed a respectable 1,000 m³ ha-1. An example is some mixed stands of the Slovak or Romanian Carpathians (Badín, Dobroč, Hrončokovský grúň, Sinca, Izvoarele Nerei). For comparison, the average hectare stock of forest stands in the Czech Republic is 330 m³·ha-1. The ability of natural forests to accumulate carbon changes over time, but the carbon sequestration balance mostly remains positive even after centuries of their natural evolution.

Given the small area of natural temperate forests, options are being studied to make the most effective use of the natural potential of forests. One simple measure could be Postponement or complete exclusion of logging of toll economic stands with a species composition close to nature (so-called “proforestation”). This measure has a dual effect: the carbon accumulated in the wood biomass remains stored and the stands can bind additional amounts of carbon in future years.

The carbon sequestration capacity generally increases with the age (size) of a tree.. A large vital tree can accumulate a comparable amount of carbon in a single year as a tree several decades old has in its entire life. 1 % of trees with the greatest apparent thickness represent a full half of the above-ground biomass of the forest and the amount of accumulated carbon corresponds to this. Other studies also confirm the long-term increase in carbon stocks in former commercial stands with a species composition close to nature and left to develop spontaneously. Postponing or stopping logging in toll stands can therefore be an effective tool for carbon sequestration. (Former) commercial stands with a dominant beech are above average in carbon sequestration, especially in nutrient stands. In such stands in northwestern Germany, where logging was stopped 30–50 years ago, a significant increase in accumulated carbon, which after 50 years amounts to approximately 160 % of the initial stateThe annual biomass increase is highest in pure beech forests.

The area of beech forests older than 120 years in the Czech Republic reaches almost 25,000 ha, which represents a sufficient amount of stands with a high carbon stock and further potential for its storage.

In conclusion, the authors conclude that there is untapped potential of part of commercial forest stands for carbon accumulationThey believe that the question of harnessing this potential will become part of a serious discussion and the search for responsible solutions to the problems associated with climate change. The aim is not to question the use of wood as a renewable raw material or the importance of growing and using commercial forests, but to contribute to a more responsible and balanced approach to the use and protection of Europe's natural environment. Spring