large amount of carbon (c) stored in boreal forest ecosystems plays an important role in the global carbon cycle. forest ecosystem c is stored in four major pools: live vegetation (above-and below ground), dead woody material (snags, down woody debris, and stumps), organic soil horizons (forest floor), and mineral soil. carbon cycling among these pools is mainly determined by disturbance. a large portion of previously fire-driven ecosystems in boreal north american forest are now managed.