Oxfordshire Woodland Group

Carbon storage in forest duff and sub soil is potentially more than that is locked up in the timber growing on top of same. The volume of the duff (leaves, needles, twigs, etc.) is 6-7 times greater than the volume of standing timber but of a lower density.

The importance of maintaining tree cover, for example by avoiding clear felling, is probably more important than has been previously recognised with this approach helping to provide ground shade thereby helping to reduce the evaporation rate of water from the duff and sub soils.