Bunia urban trees store carbon, study findsCEFR A2
5 Apr 2026
Adapted from Laura, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Rengan Visweswaran, Unsplash
A scientific study in October 2025 looked at urban trees in Bunia, in Ituri Province. Researchers from the University of Bunia counted 2,311 trees across 21 one-hectare plots in three communes: Mbunya, Nyakasanza and Shari.
The team used non-destructive measurements of diameter, height and wood density to estimate aboveground biomass and carbon. They found 1,759 tons of aboveground biomass and estimated 8,795 tons of carbon, equivalent to 2,374 tons of CO2 removed from the air.
On average one tree stores about 380 kg of carbon (about 124 kg CO2). The study also estimated a small market value per tree on the voluntary carbon market and suggested cities treat trees as climate assets.
Difficult words
- biomass — Mass of living plant material above ground
- carbon — A chemical element trees store from the air
- diameter — Width of a round object across the middle
- density — How heavy a material is for its size
- estimate — To make a careful guess from measurementsestimated
- commune — A small local area with its own governmentcommunes
- aboveground — Located on or above the ground surface
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Should cities treat trees as climate assets? Why or why not?
- Do you see many trees in your city?
- How can trees remove CO2 from the air?
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