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Terrestrial ecosystems store almost three
times as much carbon as is in the atmo-
sphere. Tropical and boreal forests repre-
sent the largest stores. The maintenance
of existing carbon reservoirs is among
the highest priorities in striving for cli-
mate change mitigation.
CURRENT CARBON
STOCKS IN BIOMASS
AND SOIL
Terrestrial ecosystems store about 2100 Gt C in living or-
ganisms, litter and soil organic matter, which is almost
three times that currently present in the atmosphere. Dif-
ferent ecosystem types store different amounts of carbon
depending on their species compositions, soil types, climate