• Daigneault, Adam
  University of Maine Center for Research on Sustainable Forests
  
• Daniel Hayes
  University of Maine School of Forest Resources
  
• Ivan Fernandez
  University of Maine School of Forest Resources
  
• Aaron R. Weiskittel
  University of Maine Center for Research on Sustainable Forests
  

This report provides a synthesis of information for assisting states with building capacity to engage in forest carbon inventory, monitoring, and modeling for projecting carbon outcomes of policies that support mitigation‐focused forest management scenarios. Specifically, we provide: (1) A qualitative analysis and summary of forest carbon modeling that describes how models work and explains the differences between various model types, including advantages and caveats in their use for a range of applications across scales in time, space, and information content.  (2) A carbon modeling decision support framework that can be used as a resource for assisting states in determining which forest carbon model may be best suited for both their information needs and their capacity, either within their agency staff or by way of funding necessary for contractor support. This report discusses the practice and benefits of forest carbon modeling and is intended for a broad audience. It focuses on model types and specific tools that address the impact of forest processes and their management on carbon stocks and fluxes across multiple pools in response to economic, policy, and environmental conditions (i.e., stressors, shocks, or drivers). Here, we provide brief descriptions and applications of some of the key forest carbon models that are relevant in the context of the prevailing environmental conditions, ownership, and management approaches for forests of the eastern United States.