Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla): Growth, Allometry and Carbon Potential

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

Mahogany carbon sequestration in Indonesia: range, growth, wood density, Chave 2014 allometry, ARR and agroforestry role, pests and invasiveness risks.

Mahogany stores carbon steadily over long rotations, with medium wood density and a large, durable stem that holds carbon for decades if it is not felled. In Indonesia it is an introduced species, so its carbon value comes with questions about native-species preference, pests and natural spread.

Identity and range

Big-leaf mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) is in the family Meliaceae, the same family as neem and the native Indonesian Toona. In Indonesia it is called mahoni or mahoni daun lebar (broad-leaf mahogany), to distinguish it from mahoni daun kecil, the small-leaf West Indies mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni). Both are planted.

The species is native to Mexico, Central America and the Amazon basin. It was introduced to Java in the colonial era and spread through state forestry plantations, roadsides and village gardens. Today it is common across Java, including state forest land in Central Java and East Java, and in smallholder woodlots across Sumatra, Bali, Nusa Tenggara and Sulawesi. Natural populations in the Americas are listed in CITES Appendix II, which affects trade in wood from the native range rather than plantation wood in Indonesia; check current CITES rules for any export.

Growth habit and rotation

Mahogany is a large, deciduous to semi-evergreen canopy tree. Young trees tolerate partial shade, then need light to grow into the canopy. It grows moderately fast on deep, well-drained soils and tolerates a dry season, which is why it does well in East Java and Nusa Tenggara.

Rotations for sawlogs are long, often 20 to 40 years or more in state plantations, while smallholders may sell trees earlier for cash. Reported growth rates vary widely with site, spacing and shoot borer damage. We do not quote a single increment value; use local inventory data.

Wood density and biomass estimation

Mahogany has medium wood density. Reported basic density values for S. macrophylla fall roughly between 0.45 and 0.65 g/cm³. Plantation wood, especially from fast-grown young trees, often sits lower than natural-forest wood. Wood density varies by site and age, so record the value and source in your project documents.

For above-ground biomass, use the Chave et al. 2014 pantropical model:

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

where ρ is wood density (g/cm³), D is DBH (cm) and H is height (m). Species-specific equations for mahogany plantations have been published in several countries. They can be used if the source data cover your age and size range, but the generic model with measured height is usually the defensible default. See our allometric equations guide.

Biomass converts to carbon with a carbon fraction (IPCC default 0.47) and to CO2 with 44/12. Below-ground biomass is added with a root-to-shoot ratio.

Carbon role in ARR and agroforestry

Mahogany is common in Indonesian smallholder ARR and agroforestry because farmers know it, seed is easy to get and the timber has a market. It suits:

• Boundary and woodlot planting on dry or degraded land in Java and Nusa Tenggara.
• Agroforestry with coffee, cacao or annual crops in early years.
• Long rotations where landowners intend to keep trees standing for decades.

Under VM0047, harvested stands are credited up to the long-term average carbon stock, so a long rotation keeps more creditable carbon on site than a short one. Many standards also favour native species for biodiversity, so mixing mahogany with natives strengthens a project’s case. See agroforestry vs monoculture plantation.

Co-benefits and livelihoods

Mahogany provides high-value timber that acts as a savings account for rural households. Its seeds are used in traditional medicine in Indonesia. Planted on slopes and roadsides, it helps with erosion control and shade.

Risks and cautions

• Shoot borer. The mahogany shoot borer (Hypsipyla robusta) kills leading shoots, causing forked, stunted stems. It is the main reason mahogany plantations fail in Asia. Mixed planting and shade reduce attack.
• Invasiveness. Mahogany produces abundant wind-dispersed seed and has naturalised in parts of the Asia-Pacific. Avoid planting next to natural forest.
• Harvest and permanence. Valuable timber means a real incentive to fell. Treat harvest as likely in the permanence and reversal analysis.
• Monoculture. Single-species blocks concentrate pest risk.
• Legality. Mahogany timber and furniture exported to the EU fall under the EUDR wood rules, which require plot geolocation and legality evidence.

Worked example

A mahogany tree with DBH 30 cm, height 18 m and wood density 0.55 g/cm³:

1. ρ × D² × H = 0.55 × 900 × 18 = 8,910
2. AGB = 0.0673 × 8,910^0.976 ≈ 482 kg
3. Carbon = 482 × 0.47 ≈ 227 kg C
4. CO2e = 227 × 44/12 ≈ 831 kg CO2e (above-ground only)

Use the tree CO2 calculator to test your own measurements, and the ARR hub for how single-tree numbers scale up to a project.