How Much CO2
Does A Tree Absorb?

Ross Bernet | October 05, 2021 | 10 min read

How much CO2 does a tree absorb?

It’s the question everyone is asking as we move toward a Net Zero by 2050 future. In short, the answer is complicated. Searching for this question on Google gets you a range of values with over 18,000 hits directly referencing "48 pounds of carbon dioxide." The majority of these are a variation of the following sentence: “During one year, a mature tree will absorb more than 48 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere” It is great to have it quantified, but where is the evidence?

I’m a Forestry Specialist at One Tree Planted, managing our monitoring and mapping program, so I value credible peer-reviewed science and data when it comes to metrics of any kind. I searched for the science supporting the 48 pounds per tree per year claim and came up empty handed. Many of the articles simply cite one another, leading nowhere. At the root of the claim seems to be this article published by the European Environment Agency which suggests “Over one year a mature tree will take up about 22 kilograms [or 48 pounds] of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and in exchange release oxygen.” But even this article does not cite any tree-based carbon studies. As a field, we should not be relying on such limited evidence for such a ubiquitous claim.

We can do better. Donors and partners ask One Tree Planted how much carbon dioxide their donation of trees will absorb. It’s a great question, but unfortunately the answer is complex. 

Carbon absorption is related to tree growth and there are many factors that affect how a tree grows.

The Main Tree Growth Factors Are: 

  • Tree Species
  • Location
  • Growing Conditions
  • Water Availability
  • Sunlight
  • Local Climate
  • Soil Nutrients
  • Site Specific Factors
tree growing

Trees growing in favorable conditions can grow extremely rapidly, trees growing in suboptimal environments grow slowly.

How is the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by trees calculated?

It’s important to consider the many factors involved in estimating the rate a tree can absorb carbon dioxide. Even though it comes with many caveats, it is possible and helpful to provide a ballpark figure so we understand the order of magnitude of the relationship between a tree and carbon dioxide absorption.

One Tree Planted’s Methodology to Calculate Carbon Sequestration

Our methodology is based on the Winrock International Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) Carbon Storage Calculator. It applies data from the Global Removals Database developed by Winrock International under funding from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This review collated data on the biomass accumulation rates for a set of FLR activities (natural regeneration, planted forests and woodlots, agroforestry, and mangrove restoration) across the globe and global CO2 removal rates. Their review is derived from data on biomass accumulation from over 330 published studies and reports. The outputs and results of the study show CO2 removal rates during the first 20 years of growth after restoration activities (Table 1).

FLR ActivityCO2 Removal Rate over 20 years
Planted forests and woodlots4.5 to 40.7 t CO2/ha/year
Mangrove restoration23.1 t CO2/ha/year
Natural regeneration9.1–18.8 t CO2/ha/year
Agroforestry0.8–15.6 t CO2/ha/year

So what does this mean, and what does it mean for a tree?
The results here are saying that there is a range between 4.5 and 40.7 tons of Carbon Dioxide removed per year per hectare during the first 20 years of tree growth.

The rate of removal depends on the location and type of forest and the statistic is measured on an area basis rather than a tree basis. This is a good approach. Forests are composed of many types of trees. Furthermore, the initial trees planted during a restoration project may not be the same trees present 20 years later - some trees will die naturally, and some trees will regenerate naturally from seed in the soil or brought in by the wind or by animals. This is a natural process.

This chart from the Bernal Review summarizes the range of values observed by tree species and by region:

carbon absorption values by tree species and by region

How Much Carbon Dioxide Do Trees Absorb Per Year?

To determine the amount of carbon dioxide a tree can absorb, we combine average planting densities with a conservative estimate of carbon per hectare to estimate that the average tree absorbs an average of 10 kilograms, or 22 pounds, of carbon dioxide per year for the first 20 years.

This was determined by reviewing the planting density of our projects around the world, with an average planting density rate of 1,000/trees per hectare. With carbon estimates, we like to err on the side of being conservative to avoid over inflating the potential benefits, which is why we selected 10 tons per hectare per year. Dividing 10 tons per hectare by 1,000 trees per hectare gets us an average value of 10 kilograms/22 pounds per tree per year. This is a little less than half of the commonly cited 48 pounds per tree per year, which gives us confidence that we are in the same ballpark as the accepted, de facto number, but are now being more conservative, and have a way to back it up.

There are verifiable carbon accounting methodologies that we fully support, like the Gold standard. These are often only suitable for large projects, and require additional costs and processes that are not applicable to all projects. The 10 kilograms per year is meant as a starting estimate to help us understand the potential carbon impact on a per tree basis.

It’s important to remember that the true benefits of trees and healthy forests go far beyond carbon storage. Their value for biodiversity, social impact, and the stability of the global climate are well documented. This may also be a challenge to measure, but at the end of the day the need to protect and restore our forests by planting trees is essential.

Want to help us protect and restore our forests? Plant a tree today!

Longleaf Pine Main Image
Longleaf Pine Restoration
Longleaf Pine Tree Planter
Plant Trees Where They're Needed Most
Longleaf Pine Landscape
Longleaf Pine Planting
Longleaf Pine Main Image
Longleaf Pine Restoration
Longleaf Pine Tree Planter
Plant Trees Where They're Needed Most
Longleaf Pine Landscape
Longleaf Pine Planting

Plant Trees Where They're Needed Most

As the need for reforestation is global and ever-changing, we feature where trees are most needed now. This project is currently supporting Longleaf Pine Restoration. Learn more

With your help, we will:

  • Protect wildlife habitat and increase biodiversity
  • Restore essential watersheds for soil stability and erosion control
  • Sequester carbon in the biomass of the forests through climate stability
  • Longleaf pine forests are among the most biodiverse in North America and provide habitat for numerous threatened and endangered species. Longleaf pine forests are well-adapted to a warming climate as longleaf pine is a resilient species that is fire-dependent, drought-tolerant, and long-lived. Reforestation of longleaf pine ecosystems- to increase, maintain, and enhance the species- has been identified as a priority area within America's Longleaf Range Wide Conservation Plan. 🌲
  • Our longleaf pine reforestation project will restore habitats, control soil erosion, and sequester carbon in an effort to stabilize the climate in the area. Not only will wildlife benefit from the clean air and water provided by the planted trees, but the surrounding community will, too. This project will work with a variety of landowners whose responsible forest management and stewardship will only further increase the benefits for species residing on the lands. Some of the most notable species that will benefit from habitat restoration include gopher tortoises, red-cockaded woodpeckers, and eastern indigo snakes
  • A personalized tree certificate (see gallery) to say thanks for your donation. We'll also send you updates about our Longleaf Pine Restoration project, so you can track the impact your trees are having on the ground!
  • We always plant a mix of diverse, native species from local nurseries. This project is working to replenish longleaf forests, so the native species grown in the nurseries will mainly be longleaf pine, but also include shortleaf pine and loblolly pine.

Sign Up to our Newsletter

Get good news, reforestation updates, planting event information, and more delivered right to your inbox.