An Average for the Boneheads Please

In discussing carbon fixation (another fixation I have along with dark chocolate), I was fascinated to discover the huge variations in absorption rates between not only different species of tree but also geographic areas of the world. I was informed by Marielos Alfaro (a real forestry brain - we like to call her Miss Carbon Neutrality) that a tree in North America, when left to grow over a 20 year period, may capture much less than 50% of the carbon of a tree planted in a dry tropical area of Costa Rica, where growing conditions are so much more amenable to our leafy friends.

"So that's why we are planting in Costa Rica" I quipped. She just rolled her eyes and moved on to speak to someone with more intelligence about reforestation. I love the internet, programming and web development (my part of the equation here at the Tropical Sierra Foundation) but I can't help but also be fascinated by the many issues we must consider in reforestation.

I begged, I pleaded and I finally cried boogers until I achieved the goal I sought, something any simpleton (like me) could understand: an average amount of carbon captured by a tree planted in Costa Rica. This angered many people when I asked for it. But slow learners and boneheads of the world rejoice! We have it! A workable average!

According to the data we have developed, on an average, one specie of tree left to grow for 20 years will affix 0.225 metric tons of carbon, convert 0.82 tons of CO2 and release 0.595 tons of oxygen into the atmosphere.

Obviously this is an average taken from many different species, but at least it is a good base for anyone to work from and it gives the individual or the corporation an opportunity to work out approximately how many trees one would have to plant to be carbon neutral.

Hey! For simple guys like me... it's a start :)