- Thu Nov 27, 2025 9:02 pm#9305
1. Trees absorb billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide
Trees are a vital component of our world for many reasons. They cool the air, stabilise soils and provide food and habitats for wildlife. They also make a huge contribution in cleaning our air by sucking up and storing carbon.
Because of where trees are and their states and age, it’s difficult to put a figure on how much carbon dioxide trees absorb globally. However, it’s thought that the world’s forests absorb billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide a year. It’s little wonder that forests are referred to as the ‘lungs’ of our planet!
2. It takes around 450 mature trees to offset the annual emissions of one person
In very round numbers, a typical mature tree can absorb around 22kg carbon dioxide per year. The carbon footprint of a typical person in the UK is around 10 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year. In theory, this means that it takes around 450 mature trees to offset the yearly emissions of one person in the UK.
3. Ancient woodland stores huge amounts of carbon
As trees absorb carbon dioxide, and convert it into carbon (among other things), they build up their carbon ‘stock’. This is the amount of carbon they’re holding in total. The Woodland Trust’s State of UK Trees and Woodlands 2021 reports that ancient woodland in the UK currently holds a massive 77 million tonnes of carbon, and absorbs a further 1.7 tonnes each year.
Trees can’t store carbon indefinitely; they have their own life cycle. When they die and decompose, trees release some of that carbon back into the atmosphere. Ideally however, the dying tree will make way for new trees which will eventually absorb carbon dioxide again. Most of our forests are carbon sinks; this means they store and absorb more carbon than they release. However, it’s feared that due to deforestation and deliberate burning, the Amazon rainforest now emits more carbon dioxide than it absorbs.
4. There are a lot of trees on the planet …
So, we know how important trees are, but what are the big numbers? There are estimated to be around 3.04 trillion trees in the world (3,040,000,000,000 written out). The density and distribution of trees differs greatly across Earth, but to give you an idea: in Sweden, there are almost 70,000 trees per square kilometre; in the UK around 12,000, and in some areas of the Northern Sahara there are less than 20 trees per square kilometre.
5. … But, we need more
A study by Nature Portfolio estimates that we cut down 15 billion trees every year, and that the global number of trees has fallen by 46% since the beginning of civilisation.
So, we lose a lot of trees each year, but how many are planted in their place? Well, the UN Environmental Programme reports that we plant around 1.9 billion new trees a year. This sounds impressive, but it’s not even close to the amount we’re cutting down. The global 1t Campaign suggests we need to plant a trillion new trees by 2030. We’d need to increase our current planting rate quite considerably to meet that!
6. Planting new trees is only part of the solution
Younger trees are significantly less beneficial than mature ones in terms of carbon capture and biodiversity. So tree planting is not a quick fix. We’d also need a lot of trees to offset emissions and there simply may not be enough land for them. Finally, planting trees has a footprint of its own, and as we’ve mentioned, trees do release carbon back into the atmosphere when they decay.
This is why there’s a call for a joined up, or holistic approach to carbon offset. Rather than just planting new trees, for example, some argue we should put an end to deforestation. Others say we should simply let tree saplings grow naturally with minimal intervention. This is one of the principles of rewilding. Of course, there are many other ways to reduce or offset emissions too, such as renewable energy, insulated homes, and better soil and land management.
7. Trees are connected by an underground fungal internet
This is perhaps one of the most beautiful and complex natural phenomenons there is. Referred to as the ‘wood wide web’, trees and plants communicate with each other using a massive network of underground fungi. This ‘mycorrhizal’ network is of mutual benefit to the fungi and the tree and is used to share and exchange nutrients. Not only that, but some trees and plants are even able to send ‘messages’ along the network. For example, if a tree is being attacked by insects, it can use the wood wide web to ‘warn’ other trees along the network to trigger their own defences.
8. You can find a tree’s age by looking at its rings
This one you might already know, but it’s still fascinating. If you come across a tree stump on your travels, you can count the rings to get a pretty accurate idea of its age. The lighter, thicker rings are the growth of the tree during the spring and summer. The darker rings are the growth towards the end of the growing season. So, one full year is one dark ring, and one light ring!
9. Over 60 different native trees can be found in the UK
The most common species include the beech, English oak, London plane, silver birch, hawthorn and hazel. Many of these trees are also found in our hedgerows, but are just managed a little differently. Due to its cultural and historical significance, the English oak is the national tree of England.
10. Trees are a home for wildlife
According to the RSPB, in the UK more than 500 invertebrates feed on birches; oak trees support 31 different mammals and common hawthorn can support up to 300 different insects. That’s not to mention the countless number of birds that feed on a tree’s fruit, nuts and berries.
Trees are a vital component of our world for many reasons. They cool the air, stabilise soils and provide food and habitats for wildlife. They also make a huge contribution in cleaning our air by sucking up and storing carbon.
Because of where trees are and their states and age, it’s difficult to put a figure on how much carbon dioxide trees absorb globally. However, it’s thought that the world’s forests absorb billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide a year. It’s little wonder that forests are referred to as the ‘lungs’ of our planet!
2. It takes around 450 mature trees to offset the annual emissions of one person
In very round numbers, a typical mature tree can absorb around 22kg carbon dioxide per year. The carbon footprint of a typical person in the UK is around 10 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year. In theory, this means that it takes around 450 mature trees to offset the yearly emissions of one person in the UK.
3. Ancient woodland stores huge amounts of carbon
As trees absorb carbon dioxide, and convert it into carbon (among other things), they build up their carbon ‘stock’. This is the amount of carbon they’re holding in total. The Woodland Trust’s State of UK Trees and Woodlands 2021 reports that ancient woodland in the UK currently holds a massive 77 million tonnes of carbon, and absorbs a further 1.7 tonnes each year.
Trees can’t store carbon indefinitely; they have their own life cycle. When they die and decompose, trees release some of that carbon back into the atmosphere. Ideally however, the dying tree will make way for new trees which will eventually absorb carbon dioxide again. Most of our forests are carbon sinks; this means they store and absorb more carbon than they release. However, it’s feared that due to deforestation and deliberate burning, the Amazon rainforest now emits more carbon dioxide than it absorbs.
4. There are a lot of trees on the planet …
So, we know how important trees are, but what are the big numbers? There are estimated to be around 3.04 trillion trees in the world (3,040,000,000,000 written out). The density and distribution of trees differs greatly across Earth, but to give you an idea: in Sweden, there are almost 70,000 trees per square kilometre; in the UK around 12,000, and in some areas of the Northern Sahara there are less than 20 trees per square kilometre.
5. … But, we need more
A study by Nature Portfolio estimates that we cut down 15 billion trees every year, and that the global number of trees has fallen by 46% since the beginning of civilisation.
So, we lose a lot of trees each year, but how many are planted in their place? Well, the UN Environmental Programme reports that we plant around 1.9 billion new trees a year. This sounds impressive, but it’s not even close to the amount we’re cutting down. The global 1t Campaign suggests we need to plant a trillion new trees by 2030. We’d need to increase our current planting rate quite considerably to meet that!
6. Planting new trees is only part of the solution
Younger trees are significantly less beneficial than mature ones in terms of carbon capture and biodiversity. So tree planting is not a quick fix. We’d also need a lot of trees to offset emissions and there simply may not be enough land for them. Finally, planting trees has a footprint of its own, and as we’ve mentioned, trees do release carbon back into the atmosphere when they decay.
This is why there’s a call for a joined up, or holistic approach to carbon offset. Rather than just planting new trees, for example, some argue we should put an end to deforestation. Others say we should simply let tree saplings grow naturally with minimal intervention. This is one of the principles of rewilding. Of course, there are many other ways to reduce or offset emissions too, such as renewable energy, insulated homes, and better soil and land management.
7. Trees are connected by an underground fungal internet
This is perhaps one of the most beautiful and complex natural phenomenons there is. Referred to as the ‘wood wide web’, trees and plants communicate with each other using a massive network of underground fungi. This ‘mycorrhizal’ network is of mutual benefit to the fungi and the tree and is used to share and exchange nutrients. Not only that, but some trees and plants are even able to send ‘messages’ along the network. For example, if a tree is being attacked by insects, it can use the wood wide web to ‘warn’ other trees along the network to trigger their own defences.
8. You can find a tree’s age by looking at its rings
This one you might already know, but it’s still fascinating. If you come across a tree stump on your travels, you can count the rings to get a pretty accurate idea of its age. The lighter, thicker rings are the growth of the tree during the spring and summer. The darker rings are the growth towards the end of the growing season. So, one full year is one dark ring, and one light ring!
9. Over 60 different native trees can be found in the UK
The most common species include the beech, English oak, London plane, silver birch, hawthorn and hazel. Many of these trees are also found in our hedgerows, but are just managed a little differently. Due to its cultural and historical significance, the English oak is the national tree of England.
10. Trees are a home for wildlife
According to the RSPB, in the UK more than 500 invertebrates feed on birches; oak trees support 31 different mammals and common hawthorn can support up to 300 different insects. That’s not to mention the countless number of birds that feed on a tree’s fruit, nuts and berries.
- By bdchakriDesk