Carbon Sequestration – The Basics

Carbon sequestration describes the process in which carbon dioxide (CO₂) is removed from the atmosphere and subsequently stored through biological, chemical, or physical processes.

CarbonStore Plays Integral Role in Successful PIU Purchase

CarbonStore is delighted to announce the purchase of 8,000 Pending Issuance Units (PIUs)

Fourth Woodland Carbon Guarantee auction dates announced

£10m available from the scheme’s £50m pot for farmers and land managers to create new woodlands to help tackle the effects of climate change. The scheme gives land managers the option to sell Woodland Carbon Units (the carbon captured once the trees have grown), to the government at a guaranteed price protected against inflation. The […]

Creating Woodlands For Cash, Carbon and Conservation in England

Head of CarbonStore David McCulloch Joins Panel Free Webinar: Tuesday June 22nd – 11am Tilhill, the UK’s leading forestry management company announces the latest in a series of free webinars. The webinar on 22 June will focus on exploring the new funding offer for woodland creation in England. The webinar will take farmers, landowners and […]

Woodland Carbon Update – May 2021

We see signs of infancy across all carbon markets, including the one for woodland carbon. The absence of pricing transparency, which we are keen to rectify, is the most obvious symptom. Meantime, we continue to work hard to address others which we feel are important steps to ensure the healthy development of the market so […]

FCCWG Webinar -The Importance of Carbon in a Climate Emergency

The Forestry & Climate Change Working Group with CarbonStore The Forestry Climate Change Working Group (FCCWG) present this Workshop Webinar; a free online workshop for forestry practitioners exploring the importance of carbon in a climate emergency. As a result of the UK’s commitment to becoming a Net Zero economy by 2050, carbon sequestration is likely […]

Woodland Carbon Update – March 2021

The outlook for the woodland carbon market appears encouraging. Its regulatory standard, the Woodland Carbon Code, has used the lockdown gainfully to update its rules and guidelines, expand its capacity and widen its recognition among both landowners and companies. With the UK now (slowly) emerging from the lockdown, pressure for a ‘green recovery’ is growing. […]

Creating Woodlands for Cash, Carbon & Conservation Webinar

Head of CarbonStore David McCulloch joined Tilhill for this informative webinar entitled ‘Creating Woodlands for Cash, Carbon & Conservation’ – Scotland which included three onsite interviews. David answered all carbon related questions from landowners, farmers and industry professionals. Watch the full recording covering: The landowner’s objectives Evaluating the land and farm potential How agriculture can […]

The Importance of Carbon in a Climate Emergency

Free workshop: Tuesday 20th April 11am The Forestry Climate Change Working Group is delighted to announce the launch of a free online workshop for forestry practitioners and will explore the importance of carbon in a climate emergency. As a result of the UK’s commitment to becoming a Net Zero economy by 2050, carbon sequestration is […]

Woodland Carbon Update – Feb 2021

The UK’s woodland carbon market is evolving rapidly. Preliminary enquiries, more substantive indications of interest in buying PIUs, and firm orders for them from companies have all picked up markedly through January and early- February. Similarly, woodland owners are quickly recognising the opportunities from selling their woodland-generated carbon credits. The number of schemes being registered […]

Carbon Sequestration – The Basics

26 July 2021

Carbon sequestration describes the process in which carbon dioxide (CO₂) is removed from the atmosphere and subsequently stored through biological, chemical, or physical processes.

In the case of woodland creation, trees use solar energy to convert CO₂ and water into carbohydrates and oxygen through photosynthesis. These carbohydrates form the building blocks for the biomass of the tree and, therefore, the storage of carbon.

One often forgotten caveat is that trees not only photosynthesise but respire also. Through this process, trees convert some of these carbohydrates and oxygen back into CO₂, water, and energy.

As trees grow, the process of photosynthesis dominates that of respiration, sequestering carbon. Once they reach maturity, however, these processes are pretty much in equilibrium. Subsequently, the trees are emitting as much CO₂ as they are sequestering.

Chart 1: Chronology of Sequestration Volumes on a Standard Woodland Scheme

This balance between photosynthesis and respiration is embedded in the Woodland Carbon Code’s carbon calculator. It’s forecast for a standard woodland’s sequestration schedule over 100 years (see chart 1 ) shows that CO₂ removals peak between years’ 16 and 25 of a tree’s life. Thereafter, they gradually decline so that, by year 100, they are approaching equilibrium.

close

Enquire about a Project

Call us

01786 649387

* required fields

Pending Issuance Unit: A promise to deliver a Woodland Carbon Unit during a given period, based on the trees’ predicted growth Woodland Carbon Unit: A ton of carbon dioxide which has been sequestered in a scheme verified under the Woodland Carbon Code