Influence of age criterion of forest stands on the accuracy of regional assessments of carbon stock and deposition in forest phytomass

Comparative calculations of carbon stock and deposition with regard to the forest area and standing crop of individual forest-forming species in admin istrative regions of the Russian Federation and in logging enterprises were performed (a) by age groups (reference variant) and (b)) by age classes. T he average values (x +/- sigma) of ratios of the former to the latter at th e total sample size n = 140 were (1) 0.999 +/- 0.069 for the carbon stock i n phytomass and (2) 0.961 +/- 0.533 for carbon deposition. On the whole, su ch ratios for the administrative regions of the Russian Federation and larg e logging enterprises averaged 1.005 +/- 0.030 (carbon stock) and 1.025 +/- 0.382 (deposition). Optimization of carbon deposition depends on more homo genous distribution of forest areas and standing crops over their age range , with subsequent division into quality classes (or their groups) and (if p ossible) into stocking density groups.