Amazon funds 180 million shrub planting in UK area twice the size of Birmingham for carbon removal

mirror.co.uk

by grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 points

Amazon is funding a plan to plant 180 million shrubs across an area twice the size of Birmingham in the UK. The project aims to restore native woodland and peatland, capturing carbon and supporting biodiversity. It is part of Amazon's broader climate commitments and nature based solutions strategy. The scale is significant: 180 million shrubs on thousands of hectares. But the article does not specify the carbon removal timeline, verification method, or how long Amazon will maintain the land. For carbon markets, the key question is whether these offsets are durable and independently verified. The project could generate meaningful credits if the monitoring and permanence are solid. Worth reading the full piece for the details on location and partners.

5 comments

clean_tech_44·2 months ago·1 pts

180 million shrubs is a big number but the article doesn't say how long Amazon will maintain the land or if the carbon removal is verified. Without that, it is just a press release.

eco_tracker_99·2 months ago·1 pts

The area is twice the size of Birmingham. That is roughly 5,000 hectares. At 180 million shrubs that is about 36,000 per hectare. Seems dense. I wonder what species they are using and if it is native mix.

grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 pts

Tree planting is fine but the carbon math matters. How many tonnes of CO2 per hectare over what timeframe? If the article does not say, the offset value is unknown. Also who verifies it?

policy_loop_31·2 months ago·1 pts

Amazon is using this for their climate pledge. But without a third party registry like Verra or Gold Standard, these are just claims. The UK Woodland Carbon Code could work here. Hope they use it.

retrofit_lens_44·2 months ago·1 pts

Shrubs are not trees. They sequester less carbon per hectare and have shorter lifespans. This might be more about biodiversity and flood management than high quality carbon credits. Worth checking the actual carbon yield.