Abstract: By using forest resources inventory data and field investigation data, this paper studied the carbon storage, density, and distribution characteristics in forest ecosystems in Jilin Province of Northeast China. The total carbon storage in the forest ecosystems was 1827.293 Tg C, and the carbon storages in arbor layer, shrub-grass layer, litter layer, and soil were 439.152 Tg C, 5.195 Tg C, 45.600 Tg C, and 1330.466 Tg C, accounting for 24.1%, 0.3%, 2.5%, and 73.1% of the total, respectively. The carbon density in the forest ecosystems was 225.304 Mg C·hm^-2, with 54.352 Mg C·hm^-2 in arbor layer, 0.643 Mg C·hm^-2 in shrub-grass layer, 5.644 Mg C·hm^-2 in litter layer, and 164.666 Mg C·hm^-2 in soil. Different types of the forest ecosystems had a carbon storage varied from 9.357 Tg C to 959.716 Tg C and a carbon density ranged from 180.648 Mg C·hm^-2 to 254.627 Mg C·hm^-2, with the highest values in soil and the lowest values in shrub-grass layer. Overall, the carbon storage and density in the forest ecosystems were greater in eastern mountainous area than in central and western plains. In the Province, middle-aged forests had a greater proportion than the forests in other age classes, and thereby, a proper management of the present forests could increase the carbon sequestration of the forest ecosystems.

Key words: forest ecosystem, carbon storage, carbon density, distribution characteristics, Jilin Province