A Carbon Source, Sink and Store: Explaining Soil Carbon

A Carbon Source, Sink and Store

There is a lot of confusion surrounding terms such as ‘carbon sink’, ‘carbon store’ and ‘carbon source’.

In a nutshell:

• A carbon source releases more carbon than it absorbs.
• A carbon sink is any reservoir that absorbs more carbon than it releases.
• A carbon store/stock maintains a constant amount of carbon.

These three terms are neatly illustrated during a woodland’s life cycle. Initially, a planting project is a carbon source, due to the ground disturbance, the use of tree guards, the fencing etc.

Thereafter, as the trees grow, it becomes a (significant) carbon sink before, as chart 1 shows, maturing into a carbon store.

Depending on the species choice, the soil type and other factors, the time between these stages varies considerably but, generally speaking, the woodland is a source in years 0-5, a sink in years 5-100, and beyond that they act as a store.

Carbon Capture (tonnes CO₂e)

Explaining Soil Carbon

An important but often overlooked store of carbon is the soil. On average, the top 1 metre of soils in UK woodlands contain three quarters of the ‘in-forest’ carbon stock (see image 1). This ‘in-forest’ stock accounts for the timber of the tree itself, all biomass in the leaf litter, other vegetation and the soil.

Even though the soil disturbance from ground preparation for tree planting will release carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere (primarily through microbial respiration), over the lifetime of the woodland the increase in biomass, improved soil stability and the mitigation of flooding means that the amount of carbon stored in the soil can increase dramatically.

The User’s Guide to the Woodland Carbon Market

CarbonStore has produced this User Guide, so all parties have a clear understanding of the terminology and the processes involved in the selling and purchasing of woodland generated carbon units. You can download the PDF below.

How can CarbonStore help you?

In partnership with Tilhill, CarbonStore can help you deliver new woodland creation and woodland-based carbon mitigation projects that not only achieves the highest possible standards in carbon offsetting but also offers many widespread benefits which we can all enjoy.

Please contact David McCulloch, the head of CarbonStore, personally either by email (david.mcculloch@carbonstoreuk.com) or by phone (07500 950832).

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• Event: Innovation Zero 2024

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