School Workshop: Investigating Carbon Storage in Tropical Rainforest Trees

Workshop overview

We have developed this fieldwork investigation in partnership with rainforest scientists from the University of Exeter. As a result of this collaboration your students have the unique opportunity to replicate the real data collection techniques and calculations used by scientists in the world’s rainforests.

What happens in the workshop

We begin in the classroom by outlining the role that forests play in carbon sequestration. The students then discuss how we could go about measuring and calculating how much carbon is stored in a particular tree and then trial the agreed methodology using the trees growing directly outside of the classroom. The methodology used has been designed in partnership with rainforest scientists from the University of Exeter.

A close up of inside the rainforest biome with green leaves and the top of the biome on show

The students then visit the Rainforest Biome to locate and measure a selection of trees. Upon their return to the classroom we pull together a class data set and calculate the carbon stored within those trees.

Finally, we work out the amount of Carbon dioxide those trees have sequestered in their life time, putting this value into context with our own personal carbon footprints and discussing the capacity of trees and other measures to mitigate climate change.

Bodmin College

“ The work was perfectly pitched for my year 13 class with a focused and relevant topic area that made use of the resources available at Eden. The students had a fun and extremely worthwhile experience. ”

Practical information

This workshop enables pupils to:

Use appropriate equipment and methods to collect data from the field and calculate carbon storage in trees using allometric equations.
Discuss the importance of trees in terms of their ability to store carbon and hence their role in climate change mitigation.

We've designed the workshop to complement the following specifications:

AQA A level Geography

3.1.1.3 The carbon cycle – stores of carbon, carbon cycle, respiration, photosynthesis, decomposition, deforestation, farming practices, carbon sequestration, effect of a changing carbon budget (local and global), greenhouse effect, climate change mitigation, positive and negative feedbacks, human impacts and interventions in the carbon cycle.

3.1.1.6 – Case study of a tropical rainforest

3.1.6.2 – Ecosystems and process – factors influencing the changing of an ecosystem

3.1.6.1 – Biomes – human activity and impact

Edexcel A level Geography

Topic 6 – The Carbon Cycle

OCR A level Geography

Topic 1.2 Earth’s Life Support Systems – the carbon cycle, case study of a tropical rainforest, human impacts, deforestation, management strategies.

Topic 3.1 – Climate Change – how human influence on climate (deforestation), responding to climate change – mitigation.

Fieldwork requirements (A level Geography AQA, Edexcel, OCR) – students must have four fieldwork experiences and then complete an independent study which will be marked by their teacher. The scope and focus of the fieldwork is very wide, but it must link strongly to the programme of study. This investigation fulfils that requirement and can count as one of the four fieldwork experiences.

AQA A level Biology

3.5.3 Energy and Ecosystems – biomass, carbon, primary production

3.7.4 Populations in an Ecosystem – managing the conflict between human needs and conservation

Edexcel A level Biology A

Topic 5: On the Wild Side. 5.5 – photosynthesis, ecosystems, 5.8 – products of photosynthesis, 5.10 – plant productivity, 5.13 – causes of climate change, 5.21 – carbon cycle and climate change mitigation, 5.22 – reforestation

Edexcel A level Biology B

3.3. Biodiversity, 10.1 The nature of Ecosystems, 10.4 Human effects on ecosystems

OCR A level Biology A

4.2.1 Biodiversity, 5.2.1 Photosynthesis, 6.3.1 Ecosystems, 6.3.2 Populations and Sustainability

OCR A level Biology

4.3.1 Photosynthesis, food production and management of the environment, 4.3.2 The impact of population increase

A Level Biology – Working Scientifically (with reference to AQA but common to Edexcel and OCR)

6.1 Arithmetic and numerical computation – 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, 1.1, 1.2, 2.3, 4.1

Practical Assessment, Apparatus and Techniques – AT a, AT k, AT I

Practical Assessment, Practical Skills – PS1.1, P1.2, PS3.2

The workshop costs £7.95 per pupil, with a minimum charge of £159 per group (includes VAT). Maximum group size is 35. The cost includes:

a facilitated workshop with our Education Team
free access to the Eden site for the day
all equipment needed for the workshop
free teaching resources enabling your class to prepare for the workshop and to follow up on the activity (download a sample copy)
a personal welcome from the Education Team at the entrance
a base for your bags in our purpose-built education centre, The Core
a space to eat your own lunch

The price includes free entry for accompanying adult helpers (please note our suggested adult/pupil ratios are as follows: Early Years Foundation Stage, 1:3; Key Stage 1, 1:6; Key Stage 2 and 3, 1:10; Key Stage 4, 1:15; Key Stage 5, 1:20). Additional adults are charged at our group booking rate.

We also offer a free preparatory visit to Eden for teachers wanting to plan their school trip, which should be booked in advance.