2017 - Forest carbon stock - Forest Research

Home Tools and Resources Statistics Forestry Statistics and Forestry Facts & Figures Forestry Statistics 2017 2017 – UK Forests and Climate Change 2017 – 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 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}

National Forest Inventory
Seed Storage database
Statistics
Tree species database
Forestry and tree health resources