Dead wood and litter
Non-living biomass pools that hold carbon for years and must be counted in a complete forest carbon inventory.
Fallen logs, standing dead trees, branches and leaf litter form a pool that is easy to overlook and material to the total. In wet tropical forest it can represent a significant fraction of ecosystem carbon, and in disturbed or selectively logged areas its share rises.
These pools behave differently from living biomass. They decompose, releasing carbon gradually, so their contribution to net flux depends on decay rates rather than growth. Fire consumes them disproportionately, which is why degraded forest can burn with far greater intensity than intact forest of the same living biomass.
Programmes vary in how strictly they require these pools to be measured. Where they are excluded, the exclusion must be justified by a conservative argument — that omitting them understates rather than overstates the credited benefit.
Frequently asked questions
Are dead wood pools always required?
Not always. Requirements depend on the standard and on whether the pool is expected to be significant and to change as a result of project activity.
Why does dead wood matter for fire risk?
It is fine and coarse fuel. Accumulated dead material raises fire intensity and makes reversals more likely.