If more forests are not planted the amount of CO2 absorbed annually by trees could halve by 2038

Net carbon stored in UK woodlands, million tonnes of CO2 equivalent

Northern

Projection

20

Ireland

The Carbon sequestered

by UK forests is projected to dip to 9.6 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2041

15

England

10

5

Scotland

0

Wales

1990

2000

2010

2020

2030

2040

2050

Net carbon stored in UK woodlands, million tonnes of CO2 equivalent

 

20

Projection

Northern Ireland

The carbon sequestered by UK forests is projected to dip to 9.6 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2041

15

England

10

5

Scotland

0

Wales

1990

2000

2010

2020

2030

2040

2050

Defra/Forestry Commission. Forest Research: Forestry Statistics 2021. Note: The dip in the net carbon stored in 2012 is due to a change in the modelling used