Frequently asked questions

There is no single correct number. A tree's yearly uptake depends on its species, age, size, soil, rainfall, care and whether it survives. A young sapling stores very little, a fast-growing mid-age tree much more, and a figure measured for one species in one place cannot be applied to every tree.

Carbon sequestration means taking CO2 out of the air and storing the carbon somewhere for a long time. Trees do it by growing: they turn CO2 into wood, roots and leaves, and some of that carbon moves into the soil.

No species wins everywhere. Fast-growing trees take up carbon quickly when young, while dense, long-lived hardwoods can hold more carbon over many decades. The best tree for carbon is usually a native species suited to the local soil and rainfall that will survive and grow for a long time.

No. Carbon stays stored only while the tree, its wood and the soil carbon remain. Fire, pests, drought, storms, cutting or decay can release it again. The IPCC (AR6, 2022) notes that carbon stored in vegetation and soils can be reversed by human or natural disturbances and climate change.

Not reliably on its own. Saplings store little carbon in their first years, some do not survive, and the carbon can be lost later. Planting native trees has many benefits, but it works best alongside cutting your own emissions, not as a replacement for it.

The India State of Forest Report 2023 (Forest Survey of India, released December 2024) estimates 7,285.5 million tonnes of carbon in India's forests, 81.5 million tonnes more than the 2021 assessment. Soil organic carbon is the largest pool.

Both matter in different ways. Young trees grow fast in the middle years, so their yearly uptake can be high, while old trees and old forests hold large stocks that would be released if cut. The IPCC notes that carbon uptake slows as forests mature, so protecting existing forests is as important as planting new ones.