How many hectares planted with trees without afforestation land would be needed to offset our emissions of carbon dioxide - CO 2 ?
Carbon capture through tree planting is only a small part of a temporary solution to the problem of Global Warming.
It would be necessary to change our consumption patterns and behavior towards life to solve this problem.
Carbon capture takes place only during tree development. Trees absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO 2) along with other elements in soil and air to turn them into wood. The amount of CO 2 that a tree captures during a year consists only of the small annual increase in biomass in the tree multiplied by the biomass of the carbon-containing tree.
About 42% to 50% of a tree's biomass (dry matter) is carbon. There is a net carbon sequestration, only as the tree develops to reach maturity.
When the tree dies, it emits the same amount of carbon it captured into the atmosphere.
In a stable state, a fully mature forest contributes the same amount of carbon that it captures. Therefore, it is not important how much carbon the tree captures immediately, but how much carbon it captures throughout its life.
To calculate carbon sequestration, it is necessary to know the period in which the forest will reach maturity. Carbon sequestration rates vary according to the type of trees, soils, topography and management practices in the forest.
Carbon accumulation in forests and soils eventually reaches a saturation point, from which carbon capture is impossible. This happens, for example, when trees reach maturity or when organic matter in soils is transformed to its original state.
Carbon capture practices should continue, even after reaching saturation point, to prevent carbon emission back into the atmosphere.
Plants, humans and animals are carbon-based life forms that use solar energy to obtain the carbon needed for chemistry in cells. Trees absorb CO 2 through the pores in their leaves.
Particularly at night, trees emit more CO 2 than they absorb through their leaves. A ton of carbon in the wood of a tree or in the biomass of a forest represents around 3.5 tons of atmospheric CO 2.
This means that 100 kg of dry wood contain 45 kg of carbon equivalent to 160 kg of CO 2. Mature trees planted at a distance of 5 meters form a forest of 400 trees per hectare with 300 kg of carbon in each tree. Although generally 42% of the biomass in the tree is carbon, this means that each tree weighs 714 Kg.
Estimates of carbon sequestration for 100 years range from 75 to 200 tons per hectare, depending on the type of tree. It is then possible to assume 100 tons. of carbon captured per hectare, equivalent to 350 tons. CO 2 per hectare in 100 years. This is equal to one ton of carbon and 3.5 ton. of CO 2 per year and per hectare, without taking into account the loss of trees. Calculating the loss of trees at 25% per hectare. So the carbon sequestration is 75 tons / ha. Equivalent to 2.6 tons of CO 2 per year and per hectare.
The world average of CO 2 emissions per person was 3.9 tons. in 2001. Then 1.5 ha would be needed per person. planted with trees in regions without afforestation to offset the emissions of this single person.
Additionally, 9,000 million hectares would be needed to offset the emissions of 6,000 million inhabitants in the world. However, the population and CO 2 emissions increase daily, so much more hectares would be needed.
Fertile soils are required to produce food. Large tracts of land without afforestation are generally not suitable for tree planting. Furthermore, 70.8% of planet Earth is covered by water. Tree planting greatly benefits the environment, but does not solve the problem of global warming. It would be necessary to change our consumption and behavior patterns in life to be able to solve the problem of global warming.
CO 2 emissions per person Latin America and the Caribbean compared to the world and the OECD (Average emissions - 2001)
Source: World Bank 2004 - Carbon Dioxide Analysis Center.
Factors for calculating CO 2 emissions
| Energy | Quantity | Conversion Factors Multiply | Outcome |
| KWH Electricity | 0.43 | kgCO 2 | |
| KWH Natural gas | 0.19 | kgCO 2 | |
| Natural gas hot springs | 5.50 | kgCO 2 | |
| Liters gas oil or diesel | 2.68 | kgCO 2 | |
| Liters oil | 2.31 | kgCO 2 | |
| Liters of liquefied gas | 1.51 | kgCO 2 | |
| Tons of coal | 2,419 | kgCO 2 | |
| Miles by car | 0.36 | kgCO 2 | |
| Miles by bus or train | 0.10 | kgCO 2 | |
| Miles by plane | 0.29 | kgCO 2 | |
| Total Emissions | kgCO 2 |
References
- United Nations Demographic Yearbook April 16, 2007 National Science Foundation USAThe National Energy Foundation, UKJ Doyne Farmer, Professor, Santa Fe InstituteNew ScientistWorld Bank.
