SIMULATION OF FOREST AND WOOD PRODUCT CARBON BUDGET UNDER A CHANGING CLIMATE IN FINLAND

Flows of carbon (C) in the forest ecosystem were simulated with a gap- phase dynamics type model, while flows of C in wood products were simu lated using a model that processes raw material into final products. I n southern Finland, the ratio between gross production and total stora ge for the 500 year period was 3052-3572 Mg C ha(-1) : 192-223 Mg C ha (-1) under the current climate and 4257-5096 Mg C ha(-1) : 260-318 Mg C ha(-1) under the predicted changing climate. In northern Finland, th e respective ratios were 1721-2021 Mg C ha(-1) : 103-134 Mg C ha(-1) a nd 3409-4475 Mg C ha(-1) : 212-244 Mg C ha(-1). The average total C st orage in southern Finland over the 500 year period was 174-181 Mg C ha (-1) under the current climate, and 206-217 Mg C hi(-1) under the chan ging climate. In northern Finland, average total storage was 101 Mg C ha(-1) under the current climate, and 191-198 Mg C ha(-1) under the ch anging climate. The average C storages in unmanaged forest ecosystems under the current climate and under changing climate were 200 and 191 Mg C ha(-1) respectively in southern Finland, and 142 and 193 Mg C ha( -1) in northern Finland. Approximately 27-43% of total C was stored in wood products over a 500 year period. Wood products contributed 15-22 % of the total emissions to the atmosphere. Over short periods, C sequ estration potentials are much greater than over longer periods.