10 Feb 2010
Twenty trees felled in the revamp of Newmarket Park, Auckland, are being cut up and weighed, roots and all, to figure out exactly how much carbon they have stored in the 25 years since they were planted. They include popular amenity species like karaka, kanuka, lemonwood and pittosporum.
Auckland University ecologist Dr Neil Mitchell said it was unusual to study trees when the exact age was known and the roots were intact. He hopes the study will improve calculations of how much carbon is stored in trees to help people wanting to offset their greenhouse gas emissions or gain carbon credits to sell to polluters.
Trees measured so far weighed in at about 150kg each. Dr Mitchell plans to publish his findings and provide them to local councils. He said they could help work out the value of planting in local and regional parks.
Source: Eloise Gibson, NZ Herald
