Computing Your Tree Debt

Get a FREE Issue of Earth Island Journal
Sign up for our no-risk offer today.

Go Back: Home > Earth Island Journal > Issues > Autumn 2001

Computing Your Tree Debt

ECO-Tourist Journal

The fast-growing Leucaena tree can store up to 50 pounds of CO₂ each year, or nearly one ton over 40 years of growth. ECO-Tourist Journal and the Global Cooling Action Center have tabulated how many Leucaenas need to be planted to offset the per capita CO₂ pollution caused by the following activities:

Ride a motorcycle 4,000 miles = plant a tree.
Ride a jetski 100 hours = two trees.
A seven-day trip on a cruise ship = 1.5 trees.
Fly 4,000 miles in a jet plane = three trees (one to offset CO₂; two more to offset the greenhouse effects of water vapor and nitrogen oxide).
Burn 100 gallons of gas driving a car = one tree.
To offset the 612 pounds of paper an average US consumer uses each year = three trees.
Make 20,000 photocopies = one tree.
Use 1,000 Kwh of electricity = one tree.
Purchase a new car = 200 trees.
If the car is an SUV getting 15 mph = 320 trees.

ECO-Tourist Journal [1402 East Las Olas Blvd., Suite 904, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301, (954) 463-0158]. Global Cooling Action Center [Box 1786, Silver Spring, MD 20915, (301) 929-0239].

Email this article to a friend.

Write to the editor about this article.

Subscribe Today
Four issues of the award-winning
Earth Island Journal for only $10