My emissions are happening now: don’t trees take ages to grow?
In commercial conifer crops, the trees take around 40 years to reach maturity. As the forest goes through different phases of growth the trees take up carbon at varying rates. During the establishment phase (approx first 10 years) carbon uptake is relatively low (and can even be negative due to carbon loss from the soil associated with ground preparation). This is followed by the full-vigour phase, when the trees sequester carbon at a relatively rapid rate. This levels off as the stand reaches the mature phase. Ultimately the forest stand reaches the old growth stage where the carbon balance is in equilibrium and the carbon sequestered during growth is equal to the carbon loss through mortality. So to summarise, trees are sequestering carbon at a maximum rate between the ages of around 10 and 40 for conifers, and over a longer period for broadleaves.
