11 Nov 2020
As we take a ride along Jln Sultan Azlan Shah from the junction of Jln Sultan Nazrin Shah to the junction of North-South Highway in Ipoh, a distance of of approximately 7km, you will be able to find 550 trees of the species Yellow Flame of the Forest or its scientific name, Peltophorum Pterocarpum.
These trees were planted along this protocol road approximately 30 years ago. Several prominent building can be found along this road; the Istana Cempaka Sari, the official residence of the Mayor of Ipoh and the Royal Golf Club on one side and the bungalow house of Datin Janet Yeoh, the mother of our famous actress Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh ( James Bond and Crouching Tiger).
According to the notes in wikipedia:
It is a deciduous tree growing to 15–25 m (rarely up to 50 m) tall, with a trunk diameter of up to 1 m belonging to Family Leguminosae and sub-family Caesalpiniaceaea. The leaves are bipinnate, 30–60 cm long, with 16–20 pinnae, each pinna with 20–40 oval leaflets 8–25 mm long and 4–10 mm broad. The flowers are yellow, 2.5–4 cm diameter, produced in large compound raceme up to 20 cm long. Pollens are approximately 50 microns in size.
How much CO2 is being absorbed?
Base on the current size and height, each tree is estimated to weigh about 800kg. A tree will absorb CO2 and convert it into carbon. This process is called carbon sequestration.
Each kg of tree can absorb approximately 3.46 kg CO2 per year. Thus the amount of CO2 absorbed by these 550 trees is approximately:
= 800 x 3.46 x 550
= 152,240 kg of CO2
How many cars travel along this road?
Based on the estimation of 30 cars per km per minute for a period of 5 hours a day, there is an average of 15,000 cars per year travelling along this road. Each car generate 4,600kg of CO2 per year. Thus, the total amount of CO2 produced by these cars along this road is about 115,920,000kg.
Conclusion:
The amount of carbon absorption by these 550 trees is only 152,240kg per year
The amount of CO2 produced by cars along this road is 115,920,00kg per year
Hence, the percentage of CO2 absorbed by trees along this road = 0.13%
Discussion:
More needs to be done by all of us to help turn Ipoh into a low carbon city. This can be achieved through:
a. Planting more trees
b. Use public transportation
c. Car pool
d. Use Electric Cars
e. Cycle or walk more
d. Use low carbon emission transport
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