Many have commented about carbon becoming part of the tree however one also has to consider carbon in the soil around the tree. Plants put carbon into the grou

Many have commented about carbon becoming part of the tree however one also has to consider carbon in the soil around the tree. Plants put carbon into the ground through their roots and leaves, bark and other material that comes off of them that then feeds soil bacteria, fungi, worms, etc. Think about the soil underfoot in a mature forest is versus that under a lawn. In the forest you have soft, airy soil that teems with life and goes down for meters, whereas a lawn is compacted dirt after about a foot. There's a huge difference in stored carbon between them. Its a complex ecosystem with the plants at the center, and trees, since they have the deepest roots do the best at promoting carbon uptake. Of course, if you clearcut a forest the soil ecosystem dies and the carbon eventually comes back out of the ground.