Trees are well known to have a positive climate impact on Climate and Air Quality as they reduce the amount of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere by storing carbon in their woody tissues.
The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization’s estimates that one large urban tree can absorb 150kg of carbon dioxide a year, as well as filter some of the airborne pollutants, including fine particulates.
A project was recently carried out in Co Clare to measure the ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration and air pollutant removal provide by urban trees in Mountshannon.
Results from the study indicate that 418 trees surveyed in public spaces in the village have the capacity to store 116 tonnes of carbon dioxide – the equivalent of the annual emissions of 90 cars.
The largest tree in the village and largest recorded oak in Ireland, the ‘Bé Binn’ champion oak, alone accumulated over 17,000 kg of carbon within it.