This document summarizes methods for calculating living and dead tree carbon stock density (Mg C/ha-1), soil carbon stock density (Mg C/ha-1), and annual modeled live tree carbon sequestration rates (Mg C/ha-1/yr-1) in forests using stem data collected in forested natural areas using a fixed-area plot methodology. These methods were aggregated from various literature sources (cited in text), and are a modified form of the methods used in Pregitzer et al. 2021. Differences between those methods and what is outlined here are: 1) updated species coefficients for tree carbon stock; 2) use of measured instead of estimated soil bulk density for soil carbon estimates; 3) modified methods for standing dead tree carbon; 4) removal of by-vigor scaling for carbon sequestration estimates; and 5) correction of the stem bark reduction factor used for Equation 10.
In a nutshell, this resource offers:
- Methods for calculating tree and soil carbon stock.
- Methods for calculating annual modeled live tree sequestration rates.
- Equations sourced from relevant literature, with some modifications for this use-case (as noted in the document).
How to use this resource:
- As an example of data required to calculate carbon storage.
- As a way to calculate carbon storage in an urban context.
- As a supplement to carbon fact sheets.
Author: Crystal Crown, Natural Areas Conservancy, Chloe Hanna, Yale School of the Environment, and Clara Pregitzer, Natural Areas Conservancy
Date published: 2023
Point of contact: Crystal Crown, crystal.crown@naturalareasnyc.org