> Two leaves will absorb more CO2 than one leaf. And two leaves will also release more CO2 than one leaf, once it's on the ground, decaying. Trees don't make

> Two leaves will absorb more CO2 than one leaf. And two leaves will also release more CO2 than one leaf, once it's on the ground, decaying. Trees don't make carbon magically vanish, trees store it in cellulose, aka (more or less), wood. A tree that doesn't grow more wood does not store more carbon, and there is nothing to be "maintained", mass does not just disappear.