Aboveground Biomass: The total mass of living plants, including trees and shrubs, above the soil. In the context of CO₂ removal, it represents a crucial carbon sink, capturing and storing carbon dioxide through photosynthesis.

Additionality: A principle ensuring that carbon sequestration projects result in net positive CO₂ removal beyond what would have occurred naturally. It is essential for validating the effectiveness of carbon offset projects.

Afforestation: The process of planting trees in areas that have not been forested for a long period. Afforestation contributes to CO₂ removal by creating new carbon sinks.

Agroforestry: A land management practice that integrates trees and shrubs into agricultural landscapes. This approach enhances biodiversity, improves soil health, and sequesters carbon in both biomass and soil.

Albedo Effect: The reflection of solar radiation from the Earth's surface. Forests, with their dark surfaces, generally absorb more sunlight, affecting climate and potentially influencing carbon sequestration processes.

Assisted Natural Regeneration: A forest restoration technique that supports the natural recovery of degraded forests by protecting and promoting the growth of native vegetation, leading to enhanced carbon sequestration.

BECCS: Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) is a technology that combines biomass energy production with the capture and storage of CO₂ emissions. It is considered a negative emissions technology due to its potential to remove CO₂ from the atmosphere.

Belowground Biomass: The mass of living roots and other plant material found beneath the soil surface. It plays a critical role in carbon sequestration, as it stores significant amounts of carbon underground.

Biodiversity: The variety of life forms within a given ecosystem. High biodiversity in forests enhances resilience and contributes to more stable carbon sequestration processes.

Biogenic Carbon: Carbon that is derived from biological sources, such as plants, animals, and microorganisms. Unlike fossil carbon, biogenic carbon is part of the short-term carbon cycle.

Biomass: Organic material derived from living or recently living organisms. In the context of carbon sequestration, biomass represents a key reservoir for capturing and storing carbon.

Boreal Forest: A type of forest found in northern regions characterized by cold climates and coniferous trees. Boreal forests store vast amounts of carbon in both their biomass and soils, playing a significant role in global carbon cycles.

Carbon Accounting: The process of measuring and tracking carbon emissions and removals within a particular system, such as a forest or country. Accurate carbon accounting is essential for assessing the effectiveness of CO₂ reduction strategies.

Carbon Density: The amount of carbon stored in a given area or volume of an ecosystem, such as a forest. High carbon density indicates a greater capacity for carbon sequestration.

Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR): Technologies or practices that remove CO₂ from the atmosphere and store it in a stable form. Forests are a natural form of CDR, sequestering carbon through photosynthesis and storing it in biomass and soils.

Carbon Flux: The movement of carbon between different reservoirs, such as the atmosphere, oceans, and forests. Understanding carbon flux is crucial for assessing the role of forests in carbon sequestration.

Carbon Inventory: A comprehensive assessment of the amount of carbon stored in a specific ecosystem or geographic area, such as a forest. Carbon inventories are critical for managing and monitoring carbon sequestration efforts.

Carbon Modeling: The use of mathematical models to predict and simulate carbon cycles and sequestration in ecosystems like forests. Carbon modeling helps in planning and optimizing CO₂ removal strategies.

Carbon Offset: A reduction in carbon emissions made to compensate for emissions elsewhere. In forestry, carbon offsets are generated through projects that enhance carbon sequestration, such as afforestation or reforestation.

Carbon Offsetting: The practice of compensating for carbon emissions by investing in projects that reduce or remove CO₂ from the atmosphere. Forest-based carbon offsetting projects typically involve planting trees or protecting existing forests.

Carbon Saturation: The point at which a forest or soil can no longer absorb additional carbon, meaning its capacity for further carbon sequestration is maximized. This limits the effectiveness of forests as carbon sinks over time.

Carbon Sequestration: The process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide in carbon sinks, such as forests, soils, and oceans, thereby reducing the amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere.

Carbon Sink: A natural or artificial reservoir that absorbs and stores more carbon than it releases, such as forests, oceans, or soil. Carbon sinks are critical in mitigating climate change.

Carbon Stock: The total amount of carbon stored in a forest or other ecosystem, including in living biomass, dead wood, litter, and soil. High carbon stock is indicative of a strong carbon sink.

Climate-Smart Forestry: A forest management approach that aims to increase forests' climate resilience, enhance carbon sequestration, and ensure the sustainable production of forest goods and services.

Deforestation: The permanent removal of forests, typically for agriculture or urban development. Deforestation leads to a loss of carbon sinks and contributes to increased atmospheric CO₂ levels.

Drones: Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) used in forestry for monitoring, mapping, and managing forests. Drones provide valuable data on forest health, carbon stock, and reforestation efforts.

Ecosystem Services: The benefits that humans derive from ecosystems, including clean air, water, pollination, and carbon sequestration. Forests provide critical ecosystem services essential for life on Earth.

Edge Effects: The changes in environmental conditions and species interactions that occur at the boundary between different ecosystems, such as between a forest and a cleared area. Edge effects can influence carbon sequestration and biodiversity.

Fertilizer Application: The process of adding nutrients to soils to enhance plant growth. In forestry, careful fertilizer application can boost tree growth and carbon sequestration but must be managed to avoid negative environmental impacts.

Forest Connectivity: The degree to which different parts of a forest landscape are connected, allowing for species movement and ecological processes. High connectivity supports biodiversity and stable carbon sequestration.

Forest Conservation: The protection and preservation of forests to maintain their ecological integrity, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration capabilities. Conservation efforts are vital for combating climate change.

Forest Degradation: The deterioration of a forest's structure, function, or biodiversity, often due to human activities such as logging or pollution. Degraded forests are less effective at sequestering carbon.

Forest Disturbance: Any event, such as fire, storm, or human activity, that disrupts the structure or function of a forest. Disturbances can lead to a release of stored carbon back into the atmosphere.

Forest Growth Rate: The rate at which a forest increases in biomass and carbon stock over time. Fast-growing forests are effective at sequestering carbon, especially during their early stages.

Forest Landscape Restoration: A process that aims to regain ecological functionality and enhance human well-being in deforested or degraded forest landscapes. Restoration efforts contribute to carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation.

Forest Management: The planning and implementation of practices to maintain and enhance the health, biodiversity, and productivity of forests. Effective management is essential for maximizing carbon sequestration and climate resilience.

Forest Resilience: The ability of a forest to recover from disturbances, such as fire or disease, while maintaining its ecological functions, including carbon sequestration. Resilient forests are better able to adapt to climate change.

Forest Restoration: The process of renewing and restoring degraded or deforested areas to their natural state, enhancing biodiversity and carbon sequestration. Restoration efforts are key to reversing deforestation impacts.

Forest Succession: The natural process by which a forest ecosystem evolves over time, following a disturbance or the creation of new land. Succession influences carbon sequestration as different species dominate at different stages.

Greenwashing: The practice of making misleading claims about the environmental benefits of a product, service, or policy, often to appear more sustainable than is accurate. In forestry, greenwashing can involve exaggerating the impact of carbon sequestration projects.

Hybrid Forests: Forests that combine native and non-native species, often to increase resilience or productivity. While hybrid forests can be effective in certain contexts, they may also pose risks to local biodiversity.

Invasive Species: Non-native species that spread rapidly in new environments, often causing harm to local ecosystems. Invasive species can disrupt forest ecosystems, reducing their ability to sequester carbon and support biodiversity.

Land Use Change: The alteration of land for different purposes, such as converting forests to agriculture or urban areas. Land use change is a significant driver of deforestation and carbon emissions.

Leakage (In Carbon Accounting): The unintended release of carbon dioxide due to a project that displaces activities to other areas. In carbon accounting, leakage can undermine the effectiveness of carbon sequestration projects.

Lidar (Light Detection And Ranging): A remote sensing technology that uses laser light to measure distances and create detailed 3D maps of forests. Lidar is valuable for monitoring forest structure, biomass, and carbon stock.

Lifecycle Emissions: The total amount of greenhouse gases emitted throughout the life of a product or process, from production to disposal. Understanding lifecycle emissions is essential for assessing the true impact of forestry practices on carbon sequestration.

Mangrove Forest: Coastal forests found in tropical and subtropical regions, characterized by salt-tolerant trees. Mangrove forests are highly effective at sequestering carbon, particularly in their soils.

Mixed-Species Plantations: Plantations that include multiple tree species rather than a single species. Mixed-species plantations can enhance biodiversity, resilience, and carbon sequestration compared to monocultures.

Monitoring: The systematic observation and measurement of forest conditions to assess changes in carbon stock, biodiversity, and other ecological factors. Monitoring is crucial for ensuring the success of carbon sequestration projects.

Monoculture Plantation: A type of plantation where only one species of tree is grown. While monocultures can be efficient, they often lack biodiversity and may be more vulnerable to pests and diseases, which can impact carbon sequestration.

Monoculture Plantations: Plantations consisting of a single tree species, often used in industrial forestry. These plantations can be less resilient and less effective at long-term carbon sequestration compared to diverse forests.

Mrv – Monitoring, Reporting And Verification: A set of processes used to ensure the accuracy and transparency of carbon sequestration projects. MRV is essential for validating the effectiveness of these projects in reducing CO₂ levels.

Natural Carbon Sinks: Ecosystems such as forests, oceans, and soils that naturally absorb more carbon than they release. Natural carbon sinks are vital for mitigating climate change by reducing atmospheric CO₂ levels.

Natural Regeneration: The process by which forests naturally recover from disturbances without human intervention. Natural regeneration can enhance carbon sequestration as forests rebuild their biomass over time.

Old-Growth Forest: Forests that have developed over long periods without significant disturbance. Old-growth forests store large amounts of carbon in their biomass and soils, making them critical for carbon sequestration.

Permanence (Of Carbon Storage): The ability of a carbon sink, such as a forest, to retain sequestered carbon over the long term. Ensuring permanence is crucial for the effectiveness of carbon sequestration strategies.

Photosynthesis: The process by which plants convert sunlight, water, and CO₂ into oxygen and glucose, storing carbon in their biomass. Photosynthesis is the foundation of carbon sequestration in forests.

REDD+ (Reducing Emissions From Deforestation And Forest Degradation): An international initiative aimed at reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation while promoting sustainable forest management and carbon sequestration.

Reforestation: The process of planting trees in deforested areas to restore forest cover. Reforestation helps sequester carbon, restore ecosystems, and combat climate change.

Remote Sensing: The use of satellite or airborne sensor technologies to detect and monitor physical characteristics of an area, including forests. Remote sensing is essential for tracking forest cover, health, and carbon sequestration over large areas.

Respiration: The process by which plants, animals, and microbes convert organic carbon into carbon dioxide, releasing it into the atmosphere. In forests, respiration is a key component of the carbon cycle, balancing carbon intake from photosynthesis.

Satellite Imagery: Images of Earth captured from satellites, used in forestry to monitor land use, forest cover, and changes over time. Satellite imagery is critical for assessing deforestation and carbon sequestration efforts.

Scaling Up Challenges: Refers to the difficulties in expanding afforestation projects from small or pilot scales to larger, more impactful levels. Key challenges include securing land, preserving biodiversity, managing ecological impacts, and balancing competition for land and water resources needed for agriculture, urban development, and other essential uses.

Secondary Forest: A forest that has regrown after a major disturbance, such as logging or fire. Secondary forests play a significant role in carbon sequestration as they rebuild biomass and store carbon over time.

Short-Term Carbon Cycle: The rapid exchange of carbon among the atmosphere, oceans, and living organisms, occurring over days to decades. Forests are a key part of the short-term carbon cycle through photosynthesis and respiration.

Silviculture: The practice of managing forest growth, composition, and health to meet specific objectives, such as timber production or carbon sequestration. Silviculture is a key tool in sustainable forestry.

Soil Carbon: The carbon stored in soil organic matter, including decomposed plants and microorganisms. Soil carbon is a critical component of the global carbon cycle and contributes significantly to carbon sequestration in forests.

Soil Degradation: The decline in soil quality and productivity due to factors like erosion, deforestation, and pollution. Soil degradation reduces the capacity of forests to sequester carbon and support plant growth.

Soil Disturbance: Any disruption to the soil structure, such as plowing, deforestation, or construction, which can release stored carbon into the atmosphere and affect the soil's ability to sequester carbon.

Soil Erosion: The removal of the top layer of soil by wind, water, or human activity. Erosion can lead to the loss of soil carbon and reduce the capacity of forests to act as carbon sinks.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS): A set of 17 global goals established by the United Nations to address challenges like poverty, inequality, climate change, and environmental degradation. Sustainable forestry practices contribute to several SDGs, including climate action and life on land.

Sustainable Forestry: Forest management practices that aim to meet current needs for forest products while preserving forest ecosystems for future generations. Sustainable forestry is crucial for maintaining carbon sequestration and biodiversity.

Temperate Forest: Forests found in temperate regions characterized by moderate climate and seasonal changes. Temperate forests play an important role in carbon sequestration and support diverse ecosystems.

Timber Harvesting: The process of cutting down trees for wood products. Sustainable timber harvesting practices are essential for balancing economic needs with the preservation of forest carbon stocks and ecosystem health.

Tropical Forests: Forests located near the equator, characterized by high biodiversity and significant carbon storage. Tropical forests are crucial for global carbon sequestration but are under threat from deforestation.

Tropical Rainforest: A type of tropical forest with high rainfall and dense canopy cover. Tropical rainforests are among the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth and are vital for carbon sequestration.

Urban Forests: Forested areas within or around cities, including parks, street trees, and green spaces. Urban forests provide environmental benefits such as carbon sequestration, temperature regulation, and air quality improvement.