Afforestation can deliver the province of Utrecht around 13 kton of carbon sequestration per year by 2030. The ambitious scenario assumes 4,000 hectares of new planting.
What it is
Afforestation is the planting of trees on (degraded) land for timber production or other use. Depleted pastures, motorway central reservations, fallow land and damaged ground are suitable for strategic planting. The amount of carbon captured depends on tree species, location and soil. By imitating the natural structure of a forest, with different shrubs and plants, more biomass, more biodiversity and more carbon sequestration are created.
Potential in Utrecht
The total addressable market is 18,395 hectares of non-cultivated land with an agricultural designation, plus verges, industrial sites and degraded nature areas. The sequestration potential is 3.3 tonnes of carbon per hectare per year. The plausible scenario assumes 1,800 hectares of planting, yielding 6 kton sequestration; the ambitious scenario of 4,000 hectares reaches 13 kton. A well-managed forest keeps storing carbon in the soil even at maturity.
Co-benefits
Trees in the (urban) environment provide cooling, better air quality, water storage and biodiversity alongside CO₂ storage. Afforestation and timber construction reinforce each other: carbon captured in harvested wood stays stored in buildings.
Provincial policy
The Tree Action Plan (2020) by the Utrecht Nature and Environment Federation shows that at least 600,000 extra trees can be planted in the province in 2020–2023. This aligns with the national Plan Boom, which aims for 10 million trees between 2020 and 2023, and with the ambition to expand the forest area by about 10%.
In practice
IVN Nature Education creates Tiny Forests — densely planted, native woods the size of a tennis court; Utrecht already has seven, providing cooling and capturing water. Voedselbos Haarzuilen is a private initiative where nuts, fruit, berries and herbs grow on more than five hectares of river clay in a healthy, harvestable ecosystem.
Frequently asked questions
How much CO₂ can afforestation sequester in Utrecht?
According to this assessment, around 13 kton per year by 2030 with 4,000 hectares of planting (ambitious scenario), or 6 kton with 1,800 hectares (plausible scenario).
Which land is suitable for afforestation?
Depleted pastures, central reservations, fallow land and degraded ground — preferably planted with attention to groundwater and the local ecosystem.
Does a mature forest keep storing carbon?
Yes, a well-managed forest keeps storing carbon in the soil even after reaching maturity.
Source: Preliminary Climate Solutions Assessment for the province of Utrecht (Drawdown Europe & New Economy, 2021), based on the Project Drawdown methodology. Part of the sector-based climate action plan for the province of Utrecht.