Michel L.
Information Technology and Services Consultant and Contractor - Sustainability Officer
What about planting trees as CO2 offset ? A good or a bad solution ? Are you doing/planning it ?
In the actual 'hype' of CO2, several companies are offering CO2 offsetting (compensation of your CO2 production) by planting trees ; is this a good solution ?
What are the conditions ? (financial, regulation, validation, ...)
Are you (or your company) already offsetting your CO2 by planting trees or are you planning to do it in the (near) future ? Why yes or not ?
How much are paying (or ready to pay) for each planted tree ? some companies start at 1 $ per tree, other ones ask as much as 50 $ per tree (or even more).
Good Answers (3)
We are fortunate to have enough acreage to plant trees on our own property to offset the carbon used in our business travel. We prefer fruit trees, as this also provides food. As the trees mature, excees fruit will be donated to the local food bank. In the past 3 years we have planted more than 45 trees. Fruit trees cost about $20 more, and do not covert as much CO as larger oak and pine trees. We trade lesser CO efficiency for the food yield.
Clarification added July 31, 2009:
I should mention that we are located in the midwest where natural rainfall is adequate to maintain the trees without additional irrigation. We also plant trees that are native or non-invasive to this area. Planting trees in a climate requiring irrigation would be senseless.
Tim M.
MDS Group. LLC
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Michel, This is an interesting question and can be as complex as you're willing to make it.
The first issue is to explain the true life cycle impact of trees on CO2 emissions. When doing carbon accounting, most people are aware that trees ingest or absorb CO2. However, the process doesn't end there.
To greatly oversimplify, true GHG offset calculations shows that a tree has a carbon lifecycle that includes CO2 absorption, CO2 storage, then CO2 emissions. Very roughly, in the first third of it's life, a tree will absorb CO2. The tree does not destroy or catalyze that CO2 to another compound or its basic elements.
In it's middle age, a tree will not absorb significanlty more CO2, nor will it emit CO2.
In what is roughly the final third of a tree's normal life, it will emit all the CO2 it consummed.
Think of a tree as a parking space. The tree will push out the CO2 as the tree degrades.
So, as you consider any tree planting program, remember that the CO2 doesn't go away for ever, you've just put it in a parking place.
Good luck.
Nay Lin M.
Student at the Silicon Valley
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Yes, it is a good solution for planting trees.
In U.S., we do not need to plan for trees in the public places, but i can plan in my house. In my house, i planned a lot of roses, apple trees, orange trees, oak trees etc.
The condition of planning the trees caused me a lot of money. First, water bill is very expensive. Second, I need to buy a lot of rocks to maintain the soil slide because of water that puts for my trees. In my house, we do not need any regulations to plan for trees. We just need the financial to support those trees.
I have already planned trees in my house. Planning trees in my house gives me a clean air to breath for my lung. Outside my house, i do not need to plan for any trees because government has already planned trees for CO2 offsetting. Where I live in the U.S., American people like to plan for any trees in their public places.
I saw big trees planned next to the Bus Stations, Rail Way Stations, Cal Train station and Bart stations everywhere in the cities. I can call American cities as the green cities for this planet.
More Answers (4)
GREAT solution. Beyond that, how do we limit the wholesale denuding of sites of of all mature trees before construction occurs. Time and again I've witnessed the complete removal of all trees from a site before construction begins. At the end, a number of small, immature trees are then planted at great expense. It makes no sense to remove the many large, mature trees on the site as a matter of course.
María Antonia G.
Coordinadora de Comunicación y Logística at Cátedra Andrés Marcelo Sada, Tecnológico de Monterrey
The problem with trees is the maintenance.
¿Who will take care of those trees?
¿Who will provide the water?
¿How much the water and the maintenance will cost?
That's why is not a good idea to plant trees in public spaces unless there is someone willing to take care of them.
Other thing you have to consider is the tree specie and the place: ¿will it be native to the region? ¿Will it resist the climate? ¿Will it affect the underground pipes (or whatever is there) with the roots? ¿Will it be a risk to an electricity post when older?
I hope this helps =)
John S. R.
Hallym University
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Good day Michel,
The Green Maven might be a possible (research) resource for more information.
Regards,
John S. Rajeski
Links:
If you are concerned about climate change, planting trees can help with the absorption of CO2, and they will also help lower the air temperature around them during the summer season. As others have mentioned, the trees can provide fruits, flowers, building materials, even recreation benefits and watershed protection. Aside from the costs of planting and maintaining the trees until they are strong enough to care for themselves, you also need to consider other uses the trees (or forests) may be replacing. The benefits you perceive may have a cost to others. This could include loss of grazing or farmland, or even greater use of water resources in drylands.
