Carbon Sequestration Calculator

Plan restoration outcomes with transparent biological assumptions. Track biomass, soil change, survival, and disturbance impacts. Generate charts, exports, and yearly sequestration summaries instantly online.

Calculator Inputs

Enter site, growth, soil, survival, loss, and market assumptions. Large screens show three columns, smaller screens show two, and phones show one.

Reset
Select a land type and click “Load Suggested Defaults” to fill recommended biological factors, then adjust them for your site.

Formula Used

Aboveground C gain = Annual biomass growth × Carbon fraction
Belowground C gain = Aboveground C gain × Root-to-shoot ratio
Annual ecosystem C gain = Aboveground C gain + Belowground C gain + Soil C change + Dead organic matter change + Avoided baseline loss
Adjusted annual C gain = Annual ecosystem C gain × Survival rate × (1 − Disturbance loss)
Gross project C = Adjusted annual C gain × Area in hectares × Years
Net project C = Gross project C × (1 − Leakage rate)
Net project CO2e = Net project C × 44 / 12
Estimated carbon value = Net project CO2e × Carbon price

This method combines biomass growth, roots, soil improvement, dead organic matter, avoided baseline losses, survival, disturbance, and leakage into a practical project-level sequestration estimate.

How to Use This Calculator

  1. Select a land type or keep a custom configuration.
  2. Enter your project area and choose hectares or acres.
  3. Set the project duration and current carbon stock.
  4. Enter biomass growth, carbon fraction, and root-to-shoot ratio.
  5. Add annual soil, dead organic matter, and avoided baseline changes.
  6. Apply survival, disturbance, and leakage assumptions.
  7. Optionally enter a carbon price to estimate potential value.
  8. Submit the form to show results above the form, then download CSV or PDF if needed.

Example Data Table

These sample scenarios show how input assumptions can change total sequestration outcomes.

Scenario Area Years Annual Biomass Growth Soil Change Survival Leakage Net CO2e
Forest Restoration 25 ha 10 7.5 t/ha/yr 0.40 t C/ha/yr 92% 8% 3,819.6 t CO2e
Mangrove Restoration 12 ha 15 10.5 t/ha/yr 1.20 t C/ha/yr 88% 6% 4,695.2 t CO2e
Grassland Recovery 40 ha 8 2.4 t/ha/yr 0.55 t C/ha/yr 94% 4% 2,946.4 t CO2e

FAQs

1) What does this calculator estimate?

It estimates biological carbon sequestration from biomass growth, roots, soil change, dead organic matter, and avoided baseline losses over a chosen project period.

2) Why does the calculator show both t C and t CO2e?

Carbon is stored as elemental carbon, but climate reporting often uses carbon dioxide equivalent. The calculator converts carbon to CO2e with the 44/12 factor.

3) Can soil carbon change be negative?

Yes. Negative soil carbon change can represent erosion, poor management, drainage, or degradation that reduces stored carbon and lowers the project outcome.

4) What is leakage in sequestration projects?

Leakage is the share of benefits lost because activity shifts elsewhere, such as harvesting or grazing moving off-site and causing emissions beyond the project boundary.

5) How does survival rate affect results?

Survival rate scales annual ecosystem gains. Lower survival means fewer living plants or restored areas contributing to long-term carbon storage.

6) Does this replace field measurements?

No. It is a planning and screening tool. Verified projects still need field data, monitoring plans, sampling protocols, and method-specific accounting rules.

7) Which area unit should I choose?

Use whichever unit matches your project records. The calculator converts acres into hectares internally so the biological formulas stay consistent.

8) Can I use the price field for credit revenue?

Yes, but treat it as a simple estimate. Actual revenue depends on verification, buffer deductions, methodology, issuance timing, and market demand.

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Important Note: All the Calculators listed in this site are for educational purpose only and we do not guarentee the accuracy of results. Please do consult with other sources as well.