What kinds of trees are best for offsetting carbon? Just wondering which species are most efficient at it.?

Question

Please, this is just a scientific question... I'm NOT looking for a political discussion on global warming. I just simply want a TECHNICAL answer from someone versed in biology or science as to which trees are the best at offsetting carbon. Thanks!

Thanks! Really helpful answers so far.

How about sycamore trees? They grow well in my area, have huge leaves, relatively long lifespans, and they are fast growers.

Answer 1

Trees with broad leaves that are "soft"....not thick or coarse. Trees like maples or oaks or birches would be great for absorbing lots of CO2. Those trees GROW faster, and that is what the key is to using CO2...faster growth= faster CO2 consumption.

Answer 2

There is a type of hybrid poplar tree that is used in some places for bioremediation (the trees soak up contaminants in the soil/groundwater as they grow, then they are cut down and buried in a safe place where the contaminants cannot leak out). These trees grow very fast, which means that they take a lot of carbon out of the air for use in making more wood. These trees would be great for offsetting (sequestering) carbon, but the trick is that they have to be cut down and buried in a way that they won't rot and decompose. The process of decomposition releases the carbon back into the atmosphere, so if this happens then it's all for nothing! Several fast growing species of pine trees are currently used for carbon offsetting. The practice of carbon offsetting using farmed trees is debated because there is no absolute guarantee that these trees won't die and release their carbon back into the atmosphere.

Answer 3

Really a tree takes in CO2 to make biomass. The faster a tree grows, the more CO2 it will be taking in.

So, given that, the answer to this question would vary depending in location. The tree the grows fastest in a particular area, would be best at offsetting CO2.

One problem with this is, that eventually, a tree dies, and something happens to the wood. In a natural setting the wood is broken down (though this may take decades)... the process of decomposing the wood releases much of that carbon back into the world. So, you aren't sequestering that carbon dioxide forever.

Answer 4

While planting trees to offset carbon is important, one should also consider effectiveness and biodiversity. Native trees in the areas should be encouraged because they adapt to the environment and typically more desease and pest resistant than import species.
My 2nd point is, though bigger trees is better than small trees, the decreasing lot size in suburban residential areas make it difficult to plan species that grow too big when mature. Pick the right tree for the lot when considering the mature size. You want the tree to stay there for a long time. To me it's almost a crime to cut a tree, whatever the reason is.

Answer 5

Paulownia,is the magic tree for capturing carbon and the world bank subsidises farmers who re forrest with this fast growing tree
It has giant leaves and can be used to animal forage as well as timber
it propegates from the trunk and when cut regrows again like eucaliptus
classified as an invasive species it is the quickest solution to reforrestation with the capturing of carbon in mind .

Answer 6

Bamboo is also good at offsetting carbon, in the right conditions bamboo can grow up to 12 inches a day.

Bamboo minimizes CO2 gases and generates up to 35% more oxygen then equivalent stand of trees.
1 hectar of bamboo sequesters 62 tons of CO2/year
1 hectar of young forest sequesters 15 tons of CO2/year

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Answer 7

The trees that are best are locking up carbon dioxide are fast growing ones. Fast growing trees lock up CO2 in biomass faster.

The fastest growing trees are different in different parts of the world, depending on climate, soils, altitude, etc. In Florida, they are looking at black cottonwood; in other southern states at black locust; in Europe at willow.

Answer 8

Trees are not good at removing carbon. The best organism is blue green algae.

Answer 9

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