Up-to-date carbon storage biomass

This map shows for each cell the carbon storage in woody biomass, expressed in kg C per hectare per year, based on a model approach. Carbon storage has been determined on the basis of the annual growth of woody biomass and tree species-specific carbon content knowledge numbers. From Dutch and Flemish research, the additional growth of biomass of different tree species is known (Van de Walle et al. 2005, Schelhaas et al. 2014, Schelhaas & Clerkx 2015). The entire growth of trees is taken into account (stemwood, branches and roots). The annual growth of biomass is also determined by the suitability of sites for additional forest growth, based on soil properties such as soil type and groundwater level. The combination of the potential growth of woody biomass and figures for different tree species determines the spatial distribution of carbon storage. The method is based on a method developed for Flanders (Lettens et al. 2014). The map was produced for the Atlas Natural Capital by knowledge institutes RIVM and VITO (Belgium).