Forest inventories for carbon change assessments

► Forest inventories data can be used to quantify forest ecosystem carbon budgets. ► Carbon in forest soils requires additional sampling because of soil heterogeneity. ► Carbon in forest products should be accounted for when analysis carbon dynamics in forest ecosystems, taking into account product life span and substitution effects. ► Remote sensing techniques combined with ground based sampling provide a means for upscaling over larger regions. ► Effects of climate change may lead to increased disturbance and decrease of carbon storage in forest ecosystems.