The reservoir containing carbon as a principal element in the geochemical cycle.

Reservoir or system which has the capacity to accumulate or release carbon, including the atmosphere. Under the Kyoto Protocol the following pools must be accounted for: above-ground biomass, below-ground biomass, litter, dead wood, and soil organic carbon.

A collection of physical objects containing carbon that are managed so as to maintain a well-defined level of carbon. For example, Forests NSW has created a carbon pool in the form of forests.