Forest regeneration management is increasing carbon storage in deciduous broadleaf forests

Artificial promoted natural regeneration (ANR) is a cost-effective nature-based solution for enhancing forest carbon sinks, yet its effectiveness across different forest types, age classes, and topographic conditions remains insufficiently quantified. We analyzed forest plot survey data from 2004, 2009, and 2014 to compare aboveground carbon dynamics between ANR (n = 55) and natural regeneration (NR, n = 305) plots. To address the common data gap of small trees (DBH < 5 cm), we applied a Monte Carlo method to estimate their diameter at breast height based on the probability density distribution of annual DBH increments. Our results demonstrate that while NR plots maintained significantly higher initial carbon stocks, ANR interventions dramatically accelerated subsequent growth. Over a period of ten years, ANR achieved a 12.1% greater cumulative carbon accumulation and a significantly higher relative change rate (69.3% versus 41.7%) overall. These enhancements were particularly pronounced in deciduous broadleaf forests, where ANR increased the relative growth rate to 177.7% in young stands and 40.6% in overmature stands. ANR outperformed NR in carbon accumulation on shady and semi-shady slopes. These findings offer actionable strategies tailored to specific sites for prioritizing ANR interventions, transforming forest restoration into a precision resource management tool for climate change mitigation.