Hong Kong forests can store over 7 million tonnes of carbon, study finds

Hong Kong’s forests can store more than 7 million tonnes of carbon, equivalent to one-fifth of the city’s annual emissions, according to estimates in a first-of-its-kind local study.

The research, which looked at more than 100 native tree species, also found those with the best potential to capture the greenhouse gas, providing data for authorities and private developers when assessing the carbon footprint of their projects.

Coinciding with Earth Day on Tuesday, the Conservancy Association released the findings of a three-year study on the carbon storage capacity of more than 100 trees native to Hong Kong.

The group’s conservation manager, Dr Angie Ng Ying-sim, said the study could provide more data to assess the effects of green investments for the city’s development, such as projects involving reforestation and forest protection and management for carbon dioxide removal.

Ng said Hong Kong had immense potential to create a carbon sink – a natural area which absorbs more carbon than it produces – which could be a nature-based solution to the government’s goal for the city to be carbon neutral by 2050.