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Primary boreal forests provide critical stores of carbon, biodiversity and freshwater
Boreal forests are home to 481 Million hectares of remaining primary forest, or 41% of the global total
CARBON STORED [in billion tonnes]: 1,042
TOTAL BOREAL FOREST carbon = more carbon than is currently stored in the atmosphere and twice as large as all anthropogenic emissions since 1870
CARBON STORED [tonnes C ha-1]
vegetation: 47–142
soils: 125–812
peat: 110–1,213
Below ground: 912 Above ground: 130
Harbor unique biodiversity and Ecosystem services, including climate regulation
Temperate forests are home to 108 Million hectares of remaining primary forest, or 9% of the global total, highlighting the urgency of protecting what’s left
CARBON STORED [in billion tonnes]: 119
TOTAL TEMPERATE FOREST CARBON = equivalent to global CO₂ emissions from 2005–2017
CARBON STORED [tonnes C ha-1]
vegetation: 147–377
soils: 83–268
root+dead vegetation: 102–265
Above ground: 47 Below ground: 72
Ecosystem integrity of primary tropical forests is critical for biodiversity and carbon
CARBON STORED [in billion tonnes]: 471
TOTAL TROPICAL FOREST carbon = greater than all carbon emissions from fossil fuels since 1750
CARBON STORED [tonnes C ha-1]
vegetation: 240
soils: 50+
Above ground: 320 Below ground: 151