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2016 – Forest carbon stock

Home Tools and Resources Statistics Forestry Statistics and Forestry Facts & Figures Forestry Statistics 2016 2016 – UK Forests and Climate Change 2016 – Forest carbon stock

The total carbon in UK forests is estimated to have increased between 1990 and 2015 (Table 4.1). The carbon in forest soils accounts for most (around 75%) of total forest carbon.

Table 4.1 Forest carbon stock
1990 2000 2005 2010 2015
million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent
Carbon in above-ground biomass 360 471 527 583 639
Carbon in below-ground biomass 129 170 190 210 230
Carbon in dead wood 9 10 10 10 10
Carbon in litter 165 175 179 182 187
Soil carbon 1 2 366 2 533 2 594 2 629 2 715
Total forest carbon 3 029 3 359 3 500 3 614 3 781

Source: Forestry Commission

Notes

1. Carbon in soil depth 0 to 100 cm.

2. To convert tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) to tonnes carbon (C), multiply by 12/44.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics

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