How do you calculate how much of a carbon "credit" that arises from woodland preservation?

Question

I own approximately 20 acres of land, of which approxiamately 18 acres is woodland. This consists of second growth maple and oak, with some pine and hemlock. About 5 acres is wetlands. Is there any way to calculate how much co2 and other green house gases I am saving versus developing the land into house lots? The area is question is in northern New England.

Answer 1

You are not saving anything, trees emit as much C02 as they absorb, plus the biological matter decaying in your wetlands emits C02.

Now if you were to cut down your trees and build a nuke power plant, you could have a bunch of carbon credits, because the energy you produce cleanly from nuclear, could replace energy from coal fired power plants.