Environmental charity organization Word Forest, in collaboration with researchers from Oxford University, has published a deep dive study on carbon dioxide removal (CDR) approaches, ruling reforestation as the most effective solution that outperforms tech-powered CO2 drawdown.
For the purpose of this study, the research team assessed 12 different CDR approaches with a so-called traffic light rating system, evaluating them on three key metrics: cost of implementation, complexity of deployment, and carbon absorption capacity.
The study results showed a dramatic lead of reforestation CDR, ranking it as green in all three segments of the traffic light system.
This research indicated that tech-powered CDR approaches like direct air capture (DAC), biomass carbon removal, enhanced rock weathering (ERW), and ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) are still nascent on the market, requiring high expenses for deployment and bringing limited benefits in return.
Going more into details, the study names DAC technology as the frontrunner in costly CDR methods, requiring between $200 and $1000+ per tonne of CO2. Biomass ranked as the second most expensive, at $100-200 per tonne, and OAE third, with $50-200 per tonne.
For the method of ERW, the study stresses that it can unlock only 1 gigaton of CDR by 2035, an impact that fades in comparison with the current 40 gigaton annual CO2 emissions.
Against this backdrop of emerging and pricey tech solutions, reforestation CDR efforts in tropical regions like Kenya stand out as the currently most cost-effective and immediately deployable option.
The report highlights that Kenya-based reforestation CDR offers a ten-fold faster growth rate than northern regions, where each tree has an approximate CO2-absorption capacity of 0.25 tonnes within 5-7 years.
Relevant: Microsoft Buys 350,000 Nature-Based Carbon Credits From Kenyan Agroforestry Project
Kenya also has a vast potential for scaling reforestation projects, as the country currently has a canopy cover of only 10%.
Word Forest claims it has already demonstrated the viability of this CDR approach, having planted around 1.4 million trees in Kenya and delivered environmental education and formed women’s empowerment groups called “Mothers of the Forest” across this African country.
Going forward, the report calls for enhanced carbon market transparency, signaling that the lack of adequate forest restoration valuation mechanisms may continue to enable disproportionate investments in technological CDR solutions.
Read more: Kenya Is First African Nation To Build REDD+ Project Registry
