Аннотация:Abstract Partitioned estimates of the boreal forest carbon (C) sink components are crucial for understanding processes and developing science-driven adaptation and mitigation strategies under climate change. Here, we provide a concise tree-centered overview of the boreal forest C balance and offer a circumpolar perspective on the contribution of trees to boreal forest C dynamics. We combine an ant’s-eye view, based on quantitative in situ observations of C balance, with a bird’s-eye perspective on C dynamics across the circumboreal region using large-scale data sets. We conclude with an outlook addressing the trajectories of the circumboreal C dynamics in response to projected environmental changes.