Carbon stabilization in boreal forest soils

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Canadian boreal forests occupy 77% of this country's forested land and account for over one third of the Earth's total boreal forest resource. These forests represent a huge reservoir of carbon on a global basis, containing close to 25% of the total carbon present in all the Earth's vegetation and soils. Eighty four percent of boreal forest carbon stocks are in soil, with only 16% in vegetation. In view of their importance in the global carbon budget, there is an urgent need to better understand the processes responsible for carbon accumulation and sequestration in boreal ecosystems. But there is a paucity of studies on carbon biogeochemistry in boreal forest soils, and very little is known about the exact nature and stabilization mechanisms of their organic matter, and resulting soil carbon stocks.