Contribution of Old Growth Forests to the Carbon Budget of the Boreal Zone in Central Siberia

Abstract

Old growth (mature and overmature) forests of Central Siberia accumulate carbon not only in the biomass but also in the phytodetritus, including in coarse woody debris (CWD), due to the slow seasonally depressed decomposition of organic matter. Slowly decomposing and accumulating on the soil surface stock of CWD, as a soil humus, serves as a long-term carbon pool in boreal forest ecosystems.