Species-specific basic stem-wood densities for twelve indigenous forest and shrubland species of known age, New Zealand

Background: Tree carbon estimates for New Zealand indigenous tree and shrub species are largely based on mean basic stem-wood densities derived from a limited number of trees, often of unspecified age and from a limited number of sites throughout New Zealand. Yet stem-wood density values feed directly into New Zealand’s international and national greenhouse gas accounting. We augment existing published basic stem-wood density data with new age-specific values for 12 indigenous forest and shrubland species, including rarely obtained values for trees