Cinnamon (Cinnamomum burmannii): Growth, Allometry and Carbon Potential

Updated 2026-11-02 · 4 min read · By the akar.earth specialist team

Cinnamon (cassia vera) carbon sequestration in Indonesia: Kerinci range, bark harvest cycles, wood density, allometry, agroforestry role and risks.

Cinnamon trees sequester carbon as they grow, but Indonesian cinnamon is harvested for its bark by felling or stripping trees, so carbon stocks rise and fall with each harvest. For carbon projects, the key is managing the harvest cycle and mixing cinnamon with permanent trees.

Identity and range

Indonesian cinnamon (Cinnamomum burmannii) is in the laurel family, Lauraceae. In Indonesia it is called kayu manis; in trade it is known as cassia vera, Indonesian cassia or Korintje (Kerinci) cinnamon. It is a different species from Ceylon cinnamon (C. verum) and Chinese cassia (C. cassia).

C. burmannii is native to Southeast Asia, including Indonesia. Indonesia is one of the world’s largest cinnamon exporters, and most production comes from smallholders in the Kerinci highlands of Jambi and neighbouring West Sumatra, on the edge of Kerinci Seblat National Park. Smaller areas are found in North Sumatra, Bengkulu and Java.

Growth habit and rotation

Cinnamon is an evergreen tree that can reach 15 m or more if left to grow, with aromatic bark and leaves. In Kerinci it is grown in smallholder gardens, often at mid to high elevations, sometimes mixed with coffee and vegetables.

Farmers usually harvest when trees are several years old, often roughly 5 to 15 years, depending on cash needs and bark quality. Older trees yield thicker, higher-value bark. Harvest typically means felling the tree and stripping all the bark, or stripping standing trees. Stumps can coppice and regrow. Reported growth rates and cycle lengths vary widely.

Wood density and biomass estimation

Reliable wood density data for C. burmannii are scarce. Moderate values around 0.45 to 0.6 g/cm³ are a reasonable starting range for Cinnamomum, but treat them as uncertain and measure locally where possible. Wood density varies with site and age.

Use the Chave et al. 2014 model:

AGB (kg) = 0.0673 × (ρ × D² × H)^0.976

with ρ in g/cm³, D (DBH) in cm and H in m. We are not aware of a widely used cinnamon-specific equation. Because the bark is a significant share of the stem and is removed at harvest, ensure your model does not count bark carbon after harvest. See the allometric equations guide.

Convert to carbon with the IPCC default 0.47 and to CO2 with 44/12.

Carbon role in ARR and agroforestry

• Harvest cycles. Under VM0047, the main ARR methodology, harvested systems are credited up to the long-term average carbon stock, not the peak. Short cinnamon cycles mean a low average. Check the current version for how the average is set.
• Staggered harvest. A farm where trees of different ages are harvested in turn holds a steadier stock than one harvested all at once.
• Permanent trees. Adding long-lived shade and fruit trees such as durian, petai or native timber species raises the stable carbon base. See the agroforestry hub.
• Buffer zone restoration. Agroforestry around Kerinci Seblat can reduce pressure on the national park while creating carbon gains.

Co-benefits and livelihoods

Cinnamon is a major income source in Kerinci. Bark is exported for spice, flavouring and extracts, and leaves and twigs can be distilled for oil. Felled stems provide fuelwood.

Risks and cautions

• Harvest and permanence. Felling for bark is the main carbon risk. Plan it in the permanence and reversal assessment.
• Forest encroachment. Cinnamon and coffee gardens have expanded into forest on the park boundary. Projects must screen plots against protected areas and recent forest loss.
• Price swings. Low cinnamon prices push farmers to harvest early or switch crops.
• Erosion. Clear-felling on steep slopes exposes soil.
• Data gaps. Uncertain density and growth data call for conservative ex-ante estimates.

Planning notes for project developers

• Map harvest status. Record each plot’s planting year and harvest history so the model reflects real stock rather than an even-aged assumption.
• Agree harvest rules. Farmer agreements can set minimum harvest ages or maximum shares harvested per year to protect average stock.
• Retain stumps. Coppice regrowth from stumps keeps root systems alive and speeds recovery.
• Screen boundaries. Check plots against national park boundaries and forest loss since the methodology’s cut-off date.

Worked example

A cinnamon tree near harvest with DBH 15 cm, height 10 m and an assumed density of 0.50 g/cm³:

1. ρ × D² × H = 0.50 × 225 × 10 = 1,125
2. AGB = 0.0673 × 1,125^0.976 ≈ 64 kg
3. Carbon = 64 × 0.47 ≈ 30 kg C
4. CO2e = 30 × 44/12 ≈ 110 kg CO2e (above-ground only, before harvest)

Run other ages and densities in the tree CO2 calculator, and see species selection for ARR for permanent companion trees.