Abstract. Reactive volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are known to affect atmospheric chemistry, especially biogenic VOCs (BVOCs) which have a significant impact on regional air quality due to their large emission rates and high reactivities. Diterpenes (Kaur-16-ene and a diterpene likely to be Hibaene) were detected in all of the 205 enclosure air samples collected over multiple seasons at two different sites from Cryptomeria japonica and Chamaecyparis obtusa trees, the dominant coniferous trees in Japan. The emission rate of Kaur-16-ene, was determined to be from 0.01 to 7.1 μg dwg⁻¹ h⁻¹ (average: 0.61 μg dwg⁻¹ h⁻¹) by branch enclosure measurements and solid phase – liquid extraction techniques. The emission rate was an order of magnitude higher than that of monoterpenes which are known to comprise a major portion of total BVOC emissions. In addition, total emission of Kaur-16-ene at 30 °C was estimated to be comparable to that of total anthropogenic VOC emissions. To our knowledge, this is the first report of volatile diterpene emissions from trees.