ESTIMATION OF CARBON SEQUESTRATION FROM OLIVE TREE GROVES IN THE ISLAND OF CRETE, GREECE

Abstract

Tree plantations remove atmospheric carbon through photosynthesis, assisting in climate change mitigation. Olive oil is the main agricultural product produced in the island of Crete, Greece. The role of olive groves in carbon removal in the island has not been investigated so far. The current work aims in evaluating the annual carbon sequestration in Crete from olive groves. Existing data regarding carbon removal rate from olive trees have been used combined with the cultivated area of olive tree orchards in Crete. The annual carbon removal rate in olive groves is at 2.5 tC/ha while the area of olive tree plantations in Crete is estimated at 142,900 ha. The annual carbon sequestration rate due to olive groves in Crete is estimated at 1,310,393 tCO2 or 1.92 tCO2 per capita. This is compared with 3.03 tCO2 per capita emitted during electricity generation in the island and 0.14 tCO2 per capita emitted due to heating oil use in heating buildings. It corresponded at 32.54 % of the total CO2 emissions per capita in the country in 2017. The results indicate that carbon sequestration due to olive groves in Crete is not negligible and it should be taken into account in designing the appropriate policies for reducing the carbon footprint in the island.