Carbon and Biomass Content of Britain’s Woodlands
The Forestry Commission have released figures from research into the amount of carbon and biomass held by Britain’s woodlands.These estimates have been derived from direct measurements of the current ‘growing stock’ (growing trees) rather than from extrapolations from historical data.
Two reports, delivered by the National Forest Inventory (NFI), show that trees in Britain’s 2.9 million hectares of woods and forests are estimated to contain:
- 213 million tonnes of carbon; and
- 426 million tonnes of biomass (plant material).
Robust Data
Peter Weston, Head of Inventory and Forecasting for the Forestry Commission, said,
“There is growing recognition of the role that woods and forests can play in mitigating damaging climate change and providing a sustainable, low-carbon source of energy. This means it is more important than ever that we have robust data quantifying the amount and distribution of the carbon and biomass held in our woodland trees.
“These reports are the most accurate and robust which have ever been produced for Britain, because they are based on direct measurement of what is in the woods now rather than on extrapolations from historical data. They were also compiled using much more accurate and sophisticated technology and techniques than were available to researchers in the past.
“As a result, they will enable governments, policy-makers, woodland managers and industry to plan ahead with confidence, and to report accurately on woodland’s contribution to national climate change and carbon emissions targets.”
Carbon and Biomass Reports Available to Download
The reports entitled “Biomass in Live Woodland Trees in Britain” and “Carbon in Live Woodland Trees in Britain” are available to download from the NFI pages of the Forestry Commission website: www.forestry.gov.uk/inventory
Future NFI reports will present forecasts of the potential changes over the next 25 years in the carbon and biomass content of Britain’s woods and forests as trees are harvested and replanted, and new woodland is planted.
