Abstract: Forests are important carbon sinks, absorbing about 33% of the carbon dioxide released from fossil fuel combustion each year. Since 1850, global temperature has increased by 1.1 ℃, and in the future, global temperatures are likely to rise to 2.7-4.8 ℃. However, there are controversies over the direction, degree, and mechanisms of the impact of global warming on forest carbon sequestration, which seriously affects the prediction of future global climate change and the policy-making of government carbon emission control. This article summarizes the mechanisms, research methods, and main progresses of the impact of global warming on the carbon sink capacity and processes of forest ecosystems. In addition, we propose future priority research areas.

Key words: climate change, forest ecosystem, carbon sink, manipulation experiment, tree growth, soil respiration, phenology