Why are temperate rainforests important for carbon storage?

Temperate rainforests are vital for carbon storage because they accumulate significant amounts of biomass and store carbon within their soil. These ecosystems contain an enormous quantity of living and fallen trees, leaves, mosses, and other organic matter, which together can hold more than 900 metric tons of carbon per hectare.1

Notably, old-growth trees in temperate rainforests can produce even more biomass than those found in tropical rainforests. By sequestering carbon in both their massive physical structure and the forest floor, these biomes play a critical role in regulating the global carbon budget. However, their capacity for carbon sequestration is currently threatened by deforestation and climate change, which can accelerate the release of stored carbon from decaying plant matter into waterways.12