How to Calculate Carbon Dioxide Storage in Forests

The world's forests absorb enormous amounts of carbon dioxide each year, making them key players in slowing global warming. But how do we calculate the amount of CO2 stored in a hectare of forest? There's no standardized method for this crucial measurement, yet understanding the carbon sequestration in our forests is vital.

At Arboreal, we estimate carbon dioxide binding using the following method:

1. Calculate Dry Weight of Tree Trunk Using the Arboreal Forest app, we estimate the volume under bark (m³fub) for different tree species. Part of this volume is water. If we were to dry the tree, the volume would decrease. Most species shrink between 9-15% in volume when dried. We assume a 12% volume reduction, as supported by wood-database.com.

2. Determine Wood Density We use reliable sources for wood density across various tree species. These densities are typically given at 12% moisture content, but we need to know the density at 0% water content. Practical experiments show that density decreases by about 11% when completely dry. For more information, you can refer to this link.

3. Calculate Dry Weight Now we can calculate the dry weight of the tree trunk under bark.

4. Carbon Content and CO2 Equivalent The carbon content is approximately 50% in the trunk. To get the equivalent weight in carbon dioxide, we multiply by 3.67. For more information on calculating CO2 sequestration, refer to this resource.

5. Account for Whole Tree Biomass Carbon isn't just stored in the trunk; it's also in branches, stumps, foliage, and roots. This varies between species and dimensions and is the largest uncertainty factor in our model. We multiply the trunk's carbon dioxide by 95% to estimate the content in the entire tree.

Our formula thus becomes:

Volume (m³fub) x 0.88 x 0.89 x Density x 0.5 x 3.67 x 1.95

Where:

• 0.88 accounts for volume reduction when dried
• 0.89 accounts for density reduction when fully dry
• 0.5 represents carbon content
• 3.67 converts carbon to CO2
• 1.95 accounts for whole tree biomass

This method provides a robust estimate of carbon dioxide storage in forests. By understanding and quantifying this storage, we can better appreciate the crucial role forests play in climate change mitigation and make more informed decisions in forest management and conservation efforts.

At Arboreal, we're committed to providing tools and insights that help forest managers, researchers, and policymakers make data-driven decisions for sustainable forest management and climate action.