Forest on the Kennebecasis River, New Brunswick

CARBON MEASUREMENT

Guides for measuring and monitoring carbon stored in nature.

Quantifying carbon for better conservation

Measuring and monitoring carbon across landscapes can help communities understand how effective different ecosystems are at capturing and storing carbon. The more knowledge communities have about carbon stored in nature, the better we can work together to advocate for and conserve these essential areas.

What is ecosystem carbon?

Carbon is found in all life forms and soils on earth. It is exchanged through sources, which release carbon, and sinks, which absorb carbon, in the atmosphere and biosphere. When ecosystem carbon sinks are disturbed, carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases can be released into the atmosphere, accelerating climate change. The amount of ecosystem carbon in a specific area can be estimated through various in-field measurements and lab protocols.

Peat in the Hudson and James Bay Lowlands © Serena Maki a handful of Peat in the Hudson and James Bay Lowlands

Why is measuring carbon important?

High-carbon landscapes like forests and peatlands play an important role in regulating the Earth’s climate by removing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it in natural ecosystems. In Canada, 327 billion tonnes of carbon are stored in terrestrial ecosystems. If these ecosystems are disturbed, that stored carbon can be released back to the atmosphere, accelerating climate change. With the accurate and accessible tools for carbon measurement, we can find the right approach to conservation and help keep billions of tonnes of carbon in the ground.

© WWF-Canada

What is carbon measurement training?

Working closely with partners, community members and Indigenous-led conservation groups, WWF-Canada is connecting people with the tools to measure, map and monitor carbon in ecosystems.

Publicly available resources include training videos, PDF guides and more. Browse the videos and links below to learn more.

Our carbon community is always growing!

Interested in learning more about carbon measurement opportunities in your community?
Get in touch at science@WWFCanada.org

CARBON MEASUREMENT LEARNING LIBRARY: TERRESTRIAL

PEAT SOILS

Download PDF Guide

NON-PEAT SOILS

Download PDF Guide

TREES

Download PDF Guide

NON-TREE VEGETATION

Download PDF Guide

RESOURCES

 

Carbon Calculation Example – Forest Soil

 

Carbon Calculation Example – Peat Soil

 

Carbon Calculator – Forest Data

 

Carbon Calculator – Medium Vegetation

 

Sample Design Sample Allocation Calculator

 

Sample Design Sample Allocation Calculator With Strata

 

Soil Carbon Data Sheet

 

Tree Survey Datasheet

OUR PARTNERS

The carbon measurement community of practice training and other materials are supported in part by Bell Canada and RBC Foundation.