One Tree, One Tonne? The Real Math of Reforestation
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Tree planting is the most popular climate action on Earth. Some of it is theatre. The difference comes down to maths most people skip.
Dear IMPT Family,
A typical tree, over a 40-year life, sequesters somewhere between 200 kg and 1,000 kg of CO₂. The “one tree = one tonne” line is fundraising shorthand, not science.
🔥 Key Highlights 🔥
1️⃣ Carbon per tree depends on species, climate, soil
2️⃣ The four conditions that make a credit real
3️⃣ Mangroves store 3–5x more carbon than terrestrial forests
4️⃣ Reforestation is step 3 of 4 (reduce, replace, restore, remove)
5️⃣ Co-benefits beyond carbon: biodiversity, water, soil, livelihoods
For the tonne to count: the tree must survive, be additional, stay, and be in the right place. Mortality in poorly run projects can hit 50% in three years.
Good projects: native species mixes, degraded land, 10+ year monitoring, community involvement, verified by Verra/Gold Standard/Plan Vivo, transparent registries.
Bad projects: photogenic monocultures, no monitoring, claims based on potential not measured.
Looking Ahead — Count Carefully. The romance of tree planting is fine. The arithmetic is what makes it a climate solution.
Let’s keep building — together. 🌍💚
