What You've Learned
From seedlings to gigatonne-scale impact
Your Progress
Section 5 of 5Biological Carbon Capture
Trees absorb CO₂ through photosynthesis, storing carbon in wood, roots, and soil. A mature tree removes ~20 kg CO₂/year. Forests can sequester 2-10 tCO₂/ha/year depending on climate and species. Over decades, accumulate 100-400 tC/ha total.
Natural, proven technology operating at massive scale already.
Forest Types Matter
Tropical rainforests: highest carbon density (~400 tC/ha), fastest growth (4-5 tC/ha/year). Temperate: stable long-term storage with deep soil carbon. Boreal: slow growth but minimal decomposition in cold climates. Dryland: lower carbon but critical water/desertification benefits.
Match species and methods to local ecosystems—not one-size-fits-all.
Four Restoration Pathways
Natural regeneration ($50/ha, slowest, highest diversity). Assisted natural ($200-500/ha, guided recovery). Active planting ($500-2,000/ha, fastest carbon but lower diversity). Agroforestry ($1,000-3,000/ha, immediate farmer income, socially sustainable).
Choose method based on land condition, budget, and social context.
Global Potential: 900 Mha
2 billion ha degraded globally, ~900 Mha technically restorable. Could sequester 200-300 GtCO₂ over 30 years (~8-10 GtCO₂/year averaged). Total cost: $270B at $300/ha average. Tropical regions (450 Mha) hold largest potential but face deforestation pressure.
Gigatonne-scale impact possible but requires sustained funding and protection.
Co-Benefits Beyond Carbon
Water regulation (flood prevention, aquifer recharge, rainfall recycling). Biodiversity habitat for 80% of terrestrial species. Soil protection from erosion. Air quality improvement. Livelihoods for 1.6 billion people. Local cooling through evapotranspiration.
Often local co-benefits > global carbon value for communities.
Permanence & Monitoring
Forests are not permanent storage—fires, droughts, pests, illegal logging threaten carbon. Requires 50-100 year protection, adaptive management, community engagement. Verification standards (Verra VCS, Gold Standard) demand monitoring. Climate change increases risks (fire frequency, drought stress).
Success depends on long-term commitment, not just planting day.
Take Action
For Students
- →Volunteer with local reforestation organizations (The Nature Conservancy, One Tree Planted)
- →Study forestry, ecology, or carbon accounting methodologies
- →Analyze forest carbon projects on registries (Verra, Gold Standard, Puro.earth)
For Land Managers
- →Assess restoration potential on degraded land holdings
- →Access funding: carbon credits, government grants, PES programs
- →Partner with NGOs for technical assistance and monitoring
For Policy Leaders
- →Design payment for ecosystem services (PES) programs
- →Strengthen land tenure security for smallholder farmers
- →Fund long-term monitoring and enforcement against illegal clearing
📚 Dive Deeper
Initiatives & Networks
- • UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030)
- • Trillion Trees Initiative (WWF, BirdLife, WCS)
- • Bonn Challenge (350 Mha by 2030)
- • AFR100 (African restoration, 100 Mha)
Carbon Standards & Markets
- • Verra VCS (Verified Carbon Standard)
- • Gold Standard for Nature-Based Solutions
- • Plan Vivo (community forest projects)
- • Puro.earth carbon removal marketplace