Skip to main content
Contact Us

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 carbon1 2366 2533 2594 2629 2715
Total forest carbon  3029 3359 3500 3614 3781

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

Tools & Resources
In this section
Tools & Resources