India, May 10 -- In a city struggling with toxic air and rising temperatures, Delhi's forests have been quietly storing an underground climate treasure. Researchers from the Jawaharlal Nehru University and the University of Delhi have found that urban forests in the national capital are absorbing massive amounts of carbon in their trees and soil, with the potential to generate over Rs 4 lakh per hectare through carbon credits.

The study said that one hectare of urban forest land inside the JNU campus could store nearly 346.9 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, or around 3,46,900 kilograms. One hectare equals nearly 2.47 acres. Researchers estimated the carbon credit value of this storage at nearly $4,846, or more than Rs 4 lakh per hect...