CO₂ Removal from Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is an essential component of the carbon sequestration process in forest ecosystems. SOC is the carbon stored in the soil as a result of decaying organic matter, plant roots, and other biological processes that convert atmospheric CO₂ into stable organic compounds over time. This carbon storage occurs through the accumulation of organic material in the soil, contributing to long-term carbon sequestration. The calculation for annual CO₂ removal from SOC is:

Despite growing research on the effects of forest types, management practices, and disturbances on soil organic carbon, findings remain site- and study-specific, making broad generalizations difficult. Current evidence is inconclusive on the magnitude and direction of carbon stock changes in mineral forest soils. As a result, Carbontribe's Tier 1 methods assume no change in forest soil C stocks due to management, as the scientific basis is insufficient to establish default emission factors. Studies show effects of forest management on soil C stocks are variable and sometimes contradictory, and in Tier 1, changes in mineral soil C are considered zero if using more detailed activity data approaches. This is consistent with the broader principles outlined in IPCC 2019, Volume 4, Chapter 4.