Climate Benefits of Afforestation and Reforestation with Varying Species Mixtures and Densities in the North-western Boreal Lands

This document investigates how various reforestation and afforestation strategies impact the climate within Canada's Taiga Plains, specifically focusing on the balance between carbon sequestration and surface albedo. By simulating forest growth over 250 years, the authors demonstrate that mixed-species stands at medium densities provide the greatest net cooling effect because they combine the rapid growth of deciduous trees with the long-term carbon storage of conifers. A crucial finding is that traditional conifer monocultures can lose a significant portion of their climate benefit due to albedo-driven warming, as their dark canopies absorb solar radiation that would otherwise be reflected by snow. This study advocates for climate-smart management such as partial harvesting and diverse replanting.