Specification of National Reporting Table T7

T7 Carbon stock

T7.1 Rationale

The information on 'Carbon stock' indicates the contribution of 'Forest' and 'Other wooded land' to the carbon cycle. This information is used by international processes that monitor greenhouse gases and climate change.

T7.2 Specifications

Units and reporting years

Unit of reportingMillion metric tonnes carbon
Area to which reported figures referArea classified as 'Forest' and 'Other wooded land' in T1
Reporting years1990, 2000 and 2005

Categories and definitions

In order to harmonise with ongoing international processes and to reduce the reporting burden, the categories and definitions used in FRA 2005 correspond to those established by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

CategoryDefinition
Carbon in above-ground biomassCarbon in all living biomass above the soil, including stem, stump, branches, bark, seeds, and foliage.

Explanatory note

  1. In cases where forest understorey is a relatively small component of the aboveground biomass carbon pool, it is acceptable to exclude it, provided this is done in a consistent manner throughout the inventory time series.
Carbon in below-ground biomassCarbon in all living biomass of live roots. Fine roots of less than 2 mm diameter are excluded, because these often cannot be distinguished empirically from soil organic matter or litter.

Explanatory notes

  1. Includes the below-ground part of the stump.
  2. The country may use another threshold value than 2 mm for fine roots, but in such a case the threshold value used must be documented.
Carbon in dead wood biomassCarbon in all non-living woody biomass not contained in the litter, either standing, lying on the ground, or in the soil. Dead wood includes wood lying on the surface, dead roots, and stumps larger than or equal to 10 cm in diameter or any other diameter used by the country.

Explanatory note

  1. The country may use another threshold value than 10 cm, but in such a case the threshold value used must be documented.
Carbon in litterCarbon in all non-living biomass with a diameter less than a minimum diameter chose by the country for lying dead (for example 10 cm), in various states of decomposition above the mineral or organic soil. This includes the litter, fumic, and humic layers.

Explanatory note

  1. Live fine roots of less than 2 mm (or other value chosen by the country as diameter limit for below-ground biomass) are included in the litter where they cannot be distinguished from it empirically.
Soil CarbonOrganic carbon in mineral and organic soils (including peat) to a specified depth chosen by the country and applied consistently through the time series.

Explanatory note

  1. Live fine roots of less than 2 mm (or other value chosen by the country as diameter limit for below-ground biomass) are included with soil organic matter where they cannot be distinguished from it empirically.

Current and past definitions are available onFRA 2005 Terms and Definitions

Reporting table template

FRA 2005 categoriesCarbon (Million metric tonnes)
ForestOther wooded land
199020002005199020002005
Carbon in above-ground biomass





Carbon in below-ground biomass





Sub-total: Carbon in living biomass





Carbon in dead wood





Carbon in litter





Sub-total: Carbon in dead wood and litter





Soil carbon to a depth of ...... cm





Total





Internal consistency

Carbon content in biomass is usually derived using conversion factors. As these factors may vary according to plant parts, species and site, it is recommended to use specific conversion factors whenever available. In case that no such specific factors are available the countries may use the default global conversion factor of 50% recommended by IPCC. The reported figures on 'Carbon stock' are therefore closely related to corresponding figures on biomass stock in table T6 and also to reported figures on growing stock in table T5.

last updated:  Friday, February 27, 2004