Matteo Garbarino

Abstract Carbon accounting in the land sector requires a reference level from which to calculate past losses of carbon and potential for gains using a stock-based target. Carbon carrying capacity represented by the carbon stock in primary forests is an ecologically-based reference level that allows estimation of the mitigation potential derived from protecting and restoring forests to increase their carbon stocks.

1. Introduction Different ecological factors, the impact of which is strictly related to species life-history traits [1,2], can affect regeneration with varying relative effects according to the regeneration stages [3]. Seed availability and dispersal, seed and seedling predation, inter and intraspecific competition and abiotic conditions are considered among the most crucial factors playing a role in regeneration dynamics [2,4,5].

Abstract Remote sensing applications have a long history in treeline research. Recent reviews have examined the topic mainly from a methodological point of view. Here, we propose a question-oriented review of remote sensing in treeline ecology to relate remote sensing methodologies to key ecological metrics and identify knowledge gaps and promising areas for future research.