Investigation by the Royal Tombs Heritage Headquarters Reveals: “Absorbing Carbon Dioxide Equivalent to Emissions from 2,272 People Annually”
(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Ye-na = An analysis shows that the economic and public value of the forests and trees surrounding the Joseon Royal Tombs, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, exceeds 70 billion won.
According to the Royal Tombs Heritage Headquarters on the 28th, an investigation of trees at 28 sites of Joseon Royal Tombs, including Taereung, Gangneung, and Uireung in Seoul, estimates their economic and public value at approximately 77.9 billion won.
The study included examining types and sizes of trees, carbon storage capacity, and more both inside and outside the tombs.
Analysis results indicated that the average wood volume accumulation across the 28 tomb sites was 258㎥/㏊, which is 1.7 times the Seoul city average of 146.1㎥/㏊.
This suggests that the forest surrounding the royal tombs is denser compared to the overall Seoul area.
Based on this data, the carbon storage and absorption capacity was calculated, converting the amount of carbon stored by trees in the Joseon Royal Tombs into economic value in carbon credit trading, estimated at about 23.8 billion won.
Carbon credits allow entities, such as countries or companies emitting greenhouse gases, to trade reduced emissions achieved through forest protection or transition to renewable energy.
Additionally, the public value effects such as greenhouse gas absorption or storage, air quality improvement, prevention of soil erosion and collapse, and forest healing are estimated at about 54.1 billion won, as reported by the headquarters.
A representative from the Royal Tombs Heritage Headquarters explained, “The trees in the Joseon Royal Tombs annually absorb about 30,000 tons of carbon dioxide,” considering the per capita annual carbon dioxide emissions translates this as absorbing the emissions of about 2,272 people over a year.
Starting next year, the Royal Tombs Heritage Headquarters plans to conduct tree surveys in four major palaces: Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, and Deoksugung, along with Jongmyo, to assess the ecological value of the palace trees and forests.