Maple sugaring is a rapidly growing industry in North America. Maples are tapped annually, thus undergoing repeated wounding and resource reduction for sap water collection. We aim to understand the effects of tapping and sap exudation on annual radial wood growth and xylem traits in sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.), utilizing eight mature trees monitored during 2018-2021 in Simoncouche, Canada. Compared to the first year of tapping, trees exhibited a 49.7% drop in tree-ring width. Vessel density, potential hydraulic conductivity and hydraulic vessel diameter decreased, but not lumen area. We showed evidence of a trade-off among sap extraction, resource depletion and reduced tree growth. The repeated reduction of resources through tapping can have a detrimental effect on tree growth, even if the effect on the hydraulic function remains marginal. These insights underscore the need for sustainable tapping practices that consider the long-term health and productivity of sugar maple trees.

Forest road networks are essential for forest operations but significantly contribute to carbon loss and landscape fragmentation in boreal ecosystems. This study evaluates the potential of reforesting unused forest roads to enhance carbon storage (CS) in Quebec’s boreal forests. Four reforestation scenarios were simulated using spatial data from AQréseau+ and the Ecoforestry Map of Quebec, combined with the CBM-CFS3 carbon model. These scenarios varied in site preparation conditions and species selection, including the use of fast-growing local species. Random forest (RF) models were applied to analyze the influence of key variables on CS dynamics, focusing on the road area and years to harvest. The study area covered approximately 294,000 km2, and the temporal dimension was incorporated by estimating the construction dates of forest roads. Results show that scenarios integrating soil preparation and fast-growing species (S1I1) achieved the highest CS potential, with up to 6.8 million tons (Mt) of additional carbon stored over a 40–100 year period for medium-category roads, compared to 1.15 million tons in scenarios without intervention (S0I0). These findings underscore the role of reforestation in enhancing CS within managed forests. Future work should prioritize road segments for reforestation, considering ecological benefits, operational feasibility, and climate resilience.