Carbon Sequestration Rate Calculator
Reviewed by Hamza Gujjar, Algorithm Architect & Software Developer
Last updated: July 27, 2026Carbon Sequestration Rate Calculator
Trees absorb CO2 through photosynthesis and lock carbon away in their trunk, branches, roots, and surrounding soil - a key process behind reforestation and afforestation as climate mitigation strategies.
Total CO2 = Number of Trees x CO2 Absorbed Per Tree Per Year x Years
Example
100 trees, each absorbing ~21 kg CO2/year, over 10 years:
Total = 100 x 21 x 10 = 21,000 kg = 21.0 tonnes of CO2
A Commonly Cited Reference Rate
A frequently cited estimate for a medium-sized mature tree is roughly 20-22 kg of CO2 absorbed per year, though this varies enormously by species, age, climate, and local growing conditions - a young sapling sequesters far less than a mature tree, and sequestration rates change throughout a tree's lifecycle rather than staying constant.
Important Caveat
This linear model is useful for rough back-of-envelope estimation, not precise forestry carbon accounting - professional carbon offset calculations typically use species-specific growth curves, local climate data, and soil carbon measurements that account for how sequestration rates change nonlinearly as a forest matures.