A new study from Lund University reveals that Swedish old-growth forests store significantly more carbon than managed forests, with differences largely attributed to soil carbon accumulation.
A recent study conducted by researchers at Lund University has revealed that Swedish old-growth forests are capable of storing 78–89% more carbon than their managed counterparts. This study highlights not only the carbon held in living trees and deadwood but emphasizes the substantial amounts of carbon accumulated in the soil of these old forests. This striking result has surpassed earlier estimates and indicates a critical ecological distinction between old-growth and managed forests.
The research involved extensive fieldwork across Sweden, where scientists excavated 220 soil pits to assess carbon storage at depths of up to 60 centimeters. According to Anders Ahlström, a researcher at the Department of Environmental and Geological Sciences at Lund University, the carbon storage in the soil is equivalent to the total carbon contained in managed forests, including trees, deadwood, and soil combined. This suggests that preserving old-growth forests could play an essential role in addressing climate change.
Publishing their findings in the scientific journal Science, the study raises implications for forest management and conservation strategies. With new insights into the carbon sequestration capabilities of old-growth forests, the study calls for increased awareness and protection of these ecosystems, which not only store substantial carbon but also support biodiversity and ecosystem health in Sweden and beyond.
