Reduce My Carbon Footprint
Reduce your carbon footprint by Planting a tree
Reduce your carbon footprint by Planting trees is an effective way to offset your carbon emissions and improve the natural environment for the benefit of climate, wildlife and people.
The Problem
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are a major contributor to climate change. When fossil fuels are burned, carbon that has been locked away for millions of years is released into the air, causing the Earth’s temperature to rise.
Since trees have a vital role in the balancing of CO2 and oxygen levels, widespread deforestation across the world has also had a negative impact by releasing more CO2 into the atmosphere.
The rise in global temperature is causing more extreme weather events, rising sea levels, warmer oceans and threats to animals and plants that are unable to adapt to the rapid changes. If carbon emissions continue unchecked, the impacts of climate change will be potentially catastrophic to people and wildlife.
The Solution
If you would like to help combat climate change, the first step is to identify your carbon footprint and take action to reduce it. This can include actions ranging from using energy saving light bulbs and turning down the heating to car sharing.
You can also mitigate your unpreventable carbon emissions by supporting tree planting because as trees grow they soak up carbon dioxide.
The Forestry Commission’s Woodland Carbon Code provides up-to-date data on how much carbon trees fix as they grow in different conditions and locations. We have used this information to approximate how much carbon native trees. Planted in one of the areas of the Highlands of Scotland in which we work, will fix over a 100 year period.
On this basis we have calculated, as of April 2017, that:
One native tree will fix around 0.2 tonnes of CO2
Around six trees will fix 1 tonne of CO2
Please note that these statistic may be updated as we apply the calculations to additional planting areas. They are intended as a guide only to help you calculate how many trees planted by Trees for Life could alleviate your carbon footprint.
There are many schemes available around the world which promote tree planting as a way to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. At Trees for Life, we are planting trees first and foremost in order to save the Caledonian Forest and all the wildlife it supports. We grow the majority of the trees we plant at our own tree nursery from seed which we have collected locally. We inspire and support volunteers to help grow and plant the young trees and we often work in remote areas which are difficult to access. The forests which we are creating are for nature and for people to enjoy – no timber is extracted.
As more trees are donated to help restore the forest, open barren hillsides will be transformed into healthy young woodland, rich in wildlife such as red squirrel, black grouse, capercaillie, wood ants and twinflower. Once the trees reach seed-bearing age, natural regeneration will go on to create the wild forests of the future for generations to enjoy.
The trees you donate in this way will not just be tonnes of fixed carbon, they will also be all the wonderful wildlife that will grow with, in and around them.
Start a corporate grove
So much of climate change is based on carbon rich material turning into CO2 and the ever increasing CO2 level from fossil fuel. History clearly shows that multi gigatons of oil, gas, and coal have been taken from underground and turned into CO2 and released into the atmosphere. Following the carbon, we now see that these multi gigatons of carbon reside in the atmosphere, have been absorbed in the oceans, and they have changed into the biological material that covered the land.
To reduce the CO2 buildup in the atmosphere major changes to reduce the use of the fossil fuel are being made but it is arguable that this change will do no more than reduce the speed of the increasing CO2 levels from fossil fuels. Our culture may need to consider the CO2 that is entering the atmosphere from plant material.
We all know that plants take CO2 out of the air as they grow. And, according to the scientific theory ‘The Carbon Cycle ‘ the ever increasing plant material WILL turn back into CO2. This can happen quickly (like we see in horrific forest fires) more slowly (as eaten by animals, insects, or microbes) or even more slowly with our intervention.
We have several major ways to slow CO2 production from plants 1. Dry it. 2. Freeze it. 3. Store it away from oxygen. 4. Keep it away from fire. 5.Change it into something that doesn’t degrade as quick. With thought and action gigatons of plant material can be collected and stored. Industries can adopt procedures that focus on slowing gigatons of dead plant material from turning CO2 and reduce this overlooked ever growing source of unchecked CO2 production.
I feel that production of CO2 production from sources other than fossil fuel needs to be considered in your view. Fossil fuel was once plant material. I believe we need to include proper use and storing of the trees and all available plant material to reduce atmospheric CO2 levels.
how to calculate carbon footprint reduction by planting trees
how will planting trees right now help reduce my CO2 footprint immediately?
Also, with reference to an existing plantation, how can a CO2 footprint be calculated?
please do help
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What type of tree are these calculations based on? Surely a leilandii would absorb more co2 than a buddleia, for example? Evergreen vs deciduous? And how old should the tree be? Are you basing this on full grown, mature trees?
Is the 0.2tonnes per tree per year or is it per 100 years?
Can i please have some more specific data about the trees used and length of time needed? I would like to calculate what to plant and how many to offset a given carbon footprint.
Thanks
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