How much CO₂ does a tree absorb per year?

CO₂ storage in trees in one year

How much CO₂ does a tree store per year?

Across all tree species, a tree stores an average of 24,62 kg of CO₂ per year.

This has been calculated by looking at the amount of CO₂ that is stored annually by the following tree species: oak, beech, spruce, fir, Douglas fir, pine and larch.

Trees absorb carbon dioxide over their entire lifetime and store it as carbon in their trunk. An 80-year-old beech tree, for example, has stored 1 270,87 kg of CO₂ in its lifetime. If we now divide this by 80 years, we can conclude that beech stores about 16 kg of CO₂ annually.

If we do the same for the oak, beech, spruce, fir, Douglas fir, pine and larch trees, we find that these tree species store an average of 24,62 kg of CO₂ per year.

How much carbon a tree stores depends on several factors. The type of tree and its age are the most important criteria.

How much CO₂ does each tree species store in a year?

The CO₂ storage per tree varies greatly. Broad-leafed trees store more CO₂ than conifers when they are fully grown. However, conifers grow much faster than broad-leafed trees. Therefore, spruce trees are able to store more carbon in 80 years than beech trees.

Yearly carbon storage per tree

The data used for this calculation can be found in the Greenhouse gas inventory 2017, the most up-to-date data on carbon storage in trees.

Which tree stores the most CO₂ per year?

The Douglas fir stores the most CO₂. An 80-year-old Douglas fir stores about 3 717,04 kg of CO₂. Among the tree species discussed in this article, the Douglas fir therefore takes first place in terms of the amount of CO₂ it stores.

How much CO₂ do trees absorb in their lifetime?

Strictly speaking, trees do not store CO₂, they store carbon. During photosynthesis, trees absorb CO₂ from the atmosphere. They convert this CO₂ into oxygen and carbon. Then they use the carbon to grow and store it in their wood mass.

By measuring how much carbon is stored in the wood, we know how much CO₂ a tree has absorbed. We look at a period of 80 years to compare the carbon uptake of different tree species.

An 80-year-old tree’s carbon absorption

The data used for this calculation can be found in the Greenhouse gas inventory 2017, the most up-to-date data on carbon storage in trees.

Why don’t we just plant conifers if they store more CO₂?

Conifers sequester a lot of CO₂. However, monocultural coniferous forests provide a much poorer habitat for animals and plants than near-natural mixed forests.

The function of mixed forests goes far beyond that of a CO₂ reservoir. Though at first glance coniferous forests appear to be the better choice to compensate for CO₂ emissions, mixed tree systems as a whole are able to absorb more CO₂.

This has to do with the quality of the soil. In a mixed forest, soil quality is better than in a coniferous forest. When needles fall, they decompose less quickly. As a result, the soil becomes increasingly acidic. This leads to fewer microorganisms. Foliage, on the other hand, makes the forest soil alkaline. This increases soil activity and more CO₂ can be stored in the forest soil.

Mixed forests also offer the added value of biological diversity. By planting mixed forests at ForTomorrow, we promote species conservation. Flora and fauna are better coordinated. Biodiversity increases.

Do you want to calculate yourself how much CO₂ trees store?

Then use our CO₂ tree calculator. There, you can determine the storage capacity of trees based on the tree species, age, and quantity yourself.