Search Results (19)

As global climate change and urban issues worsen, increasing carbon offsets is crucial, with urban plants playing a key role. However, research on assessing plant carbon sequestration (CSE) capacity at the regional scale, selecting urban plants, and optimizing CSE capacity-based scenarios is still limited. A total of 272 plant species were surveyed in the nine cities of the Zhengzhou Metropolitan Area (ZMA). The i-Tree and biomass models estimated the average carbon storage (CS) density at 9.32 kg C m⁻² and the CSE density at 0.55 kg C y⁻² m⁻² in the ZMA. The highest CS density (13.58 kg C m⁻²) was observed in Pingdingshan, while the lowest CSE density (0.36 kg C y⁻¹ m⁻²) was observed in Xuchang. Hierarchical and cluster analyses identified plant species with balanced CSE capacity, adaptability, and ornamental value, such as Populus tomentosa Carr. and Salix babylonica L., as well as shrubs like Abelia biflora Turcz and Kerria japonica (L.) DC. Vegetation regeneration modeling indicated that CS could increase by 37%–41% along roads, 28%–43% in amenity areas, and 17%–30% near waterfronts over the next 50 years. These findings serve as a reference for urban regeneration and planning aimed at enhancing the carbon reduction potential of urban green spaces (UGS). Full article

Urban green spaces (UGSs) are critical in providing essential ecosystem services (ESs) that enhance the quality of life of urban communities. This study investigated the synergies and trade-offs between structural characteristics of urban trees and their ecosystem services and their implications for urban park management within Yurim Park, Daejeon, South Korea, using the i-Tree Eco tool. The study specifically focused on regulating and supporting services, assessing diversity, air pollution removal, carbon sequestration, and avoiding runoff. A systematic review of urban park management practices complemented the empirical analysis to provide comprehensive management recommendations. The findings of a total of 305 trees from 23 species were assessed, revealing moderate species diversity and significant variations in structural attributes, such as diameter at breast height (DBH), leaf area index (LAI), and crown width (CW). These attributes were found to be strongly correlated with ES outcomes, indicating that healthier and larger trees with extensive canopies are more effective in providing benefits such as pollution removal, runoff reduction, and carbon sequestration. However, the study also identified trade-offs, particularly regarding volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, which can contribute to ground-level ozone formation despite the trees’ pollution removal capabilities, sensitivity to water stress, requirements for shade and cooling effects, and impacts on water yield. The results highlight the importance of strategic management practices to balance these trade-offs, such as selecting low-emitting species and employing incremental pruning to enhance pollutant removal while minimizing VOC emissions. Additionally, the findings underscore the significance of tree placement and landscape patterns in optimizing year-round benefits, particularly in reducing urban heat island effects and enhancing energy efficiency in adjacent buildings. The study concludes that while urban parks like Yurim Park offer substantial ecological and environmental benefits, continuous monitoring and adaptive management are essential to maximize synergies and mitigate trade-offs. The insights provided on species selection, tree placement, and landscape design offer valuable guidance for urban planners and landscape architects aiming at enhancing the effectiveness of urban parks as nature-based solutions for sustainable urban development. Full article

This study presents a refined approach to spatially identify carbon sequestration assets, crucial for effective climate action planning in Illinois. By integrating landscape analytical methods with species-specific carbon assessment techniques, we deliver a nuanced evaluation of forest area sequestration potential. Our methodology employs a combination of landscape imagery, deep learning analytics, Kriging interpolation, and i-Tree Planting tools to process forest sample data. The results reveal a spatial variability in sequestration capacities, highlighting significant carbon sinks in southern Illinois. This region, known for its historical woodland richness, showcases the distinct carbon sequestration abilities of various tree species. Findings emphasize the role of biodiversity in the carbon cycle and provide actionable insights for forest management and carbon neutral strategies. This study demonstrates the utility of advanced spatial analysis in environmental research, underscoring its potential to enhance accuracy in ecological quantification and conservation efforts. Full article

As the urban heat island effect has become a worldwide phenomenon commonly affecting densely built-up areas, public administrations need efficient strategies to mitigate its impact on human well-being and public health. The aim of this study was to define a replicable method to estimate the ecosystem services provided by public street trees as a supporting tool in the decision-making process of urban greenery management. We compared three street arrangements characteristic of a residential district in Pisa, Italy: (1) with large trees, (2) with small trees, and (3) without trees. First, the software i-Tree Eco was used to assess the benefits of public trees located in the case-study area when provided with the three scenarios. Second, the comparison was held on the field, and we collected data with a wet bulb globe temperature meter in order to evaluate the differences in pedestrian thermal comfort among the street arrangements. The results confirmed the importance of urban vegetation, as it has major impacts on carbon sequestration and storage, pollution removal, air humidity and quality, and shade, given bigger trees and canopy sizes. The loss of ecosystem services compared to the presence of large trees varied between 40% and 50% (no trees) and 30% and 40% (small trees). Full article

Urban forests are one of the most ecologically significant systems in urban ecosystems. To make the layout and input–output ratio of urban forests more economically rational for sustainable strategic planning, it is necessary to assess the ecological benefits and ecosystem services of urban forests according to the local geographical characteristics of different cities and analyse their cost–benefit relationships. In this study, the i-Tree Eco model was used to assess the ecological benefits of urban forests in terms of four aspects: carbon sequestration and oxygen release, energy saving, rainwater retention, and air quality improvement. To translate them into economic benefits, using mathematical and statistical analysis, the cost–benefit relationship of urban forests with different tree and shrub proportions was analysed, and the impact range of urban forests with different layout types was compared. The research found that: (1) tree species are the main influencing factor of urban forest ecological benefits, (2) linear urban forests have a wider impact range, (3) if the proportion of trees in urban forests in the research area is adjusted to 0.36, the ecological benefits can increase by RMB 0.061 billion per year. We provide efficient and convenient research paths and tools for studying the cost–benefit relationship. By using an i-Tree Eco model, we realized the economic characteristics of urban forests. This research provides quantitative support for the balanced construction of urban ecological civilization and economic benefits. It can provide quantitative support for a balance between urban ecological development, economic development, and spatial optimization. Full article

The urban heat island (UHI) is a critical issue in most urbanised areas. Spatial variation of urban air temperature and humidity influences human thermal comfort, the settling rate of atmospheric pollutants, and the energy demand for cooling. UHIs can be particularly harmful to human health and there are numerous studies that link mortality and morbidity with extreme thermal events, that can be worsened by UHIs. The temperature difference between city centres and the surrounding countryside, which is accentuated in the summer months and at night, is the result not only of a greater production of anthropogenic heat but is mainly due to the properties of urban surfaces. The use of vegetation, and in particular urban tree planting, is one of possible strategies to contrast the heat island effects. In order to analyse the mitigation effects produced by green spaces in the city of Padova, a municipality in the northeast of Italy, simulations of the air temperature variations and their spatial distribution were carried out using the i-Tree Cool Air model. High-resolution RGBir aerial photos were processed to produce a tree canopy and a permeability map and the model was applied on a 10 m × 10 m grid over the entire city, producing a raster map of the aboveground air temperatures. A particularly hot July day with recorded air temperatures of 35 °C at 3 p.m. and 28 °C at 10 p.m. at a reference weather station was chosen for the test. In the daytime, the results show temperature differences up to almost 10 °C between urban open spaces with impervious cover (squares, streets) and green areas under tree canopy. At night, the simulated air temperatures are only slightly cooler in areas with tree cover than those recorded at the reference station, while urban areas with sealed surfaces maintain air temperatures 4.4 °C higher. The study was aimed at testing the applicability of the model as a tool for predicting air temperatures in relation to land use and canopy cover. The results show that the model can potentially be used to compare different urban forest and urban greening planning scenarios, however, further research is necessary to assess the reliability of the temperature predictions. Full article

Green infrastructures deliver countless functions for counteracting climate change, air pollution, floods, and heat islands, contributing at the same time to water and carbon recycling as well as to renewable energies and feedstock provisioning. Properly addressing such environmental problems would require huge investments that could be decreased thanks to the further implementation of urban forests. Local administrations are designing participative projects to improve territories and their living conditions. The i-Tree Canopy modelling tool and the life cycle assessment method are jointly applied to evaluate the potential benefits of increasing tree coverage within the boundaries of the Metropolitan City of Naples, Southern Italy. Results highlighted that tree coverage could increase by about 2.4 million trees, thus generating 51% more benefits in pollutants removal, carbon sequestration and stormwater management. The benefits are also explored and confirmed by means of the life cycle assessment method. The potential tree cover is expected to provide a total annual economic benefit of USD 55 million, purchasing power parity value adjusted, representing USD 18 per citizen and USD 99,117 per square kilometre of implemented urban forest. These results can support a potential replication elsewhere and provide a reference for the sustainable improvement of cities by expanding urban green areas. Full article

Due to rising global warming and climate change, biodiversity protection has become a critical ecological concern. Rich biodiversity zones are under threat and are deteriorating, necessitating national, regional, and provincial efforts to safeguard these natural areas. The effective conservation of national parks and nature-protected areas help to improve biodiversity conservation, forest, and urban air quality. The continuous encroachment and abuse of these protected areas have degraded the ecosystem over time. While exploring the geophysical ecology and biodiversity conservation of these areas in West Africa, Kainji National Park was selected for this study because of its notable location, naturalness, rich habitat diversity, topographic uniqueness, and landmass. The conservation of national parks and nature-protected areas is a cornerstone of biodiversity conservation globally. This study is aimed at the target United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 13, 2030—Climate Action targeted at taking urgent action towards combating climate change and its impacts. The study captures both flora and fauna that are dominant in the study area. The 15 identified tree species were selected from over 30 species with 563,500,000 (an average of 3,700,000 in each sample frame) trees for every tree species/type with a total of 63% tree green canopy cover. The study areas divided into three zones were randomly sampled within a stratum of 25 × 25 km frames divided into 150 sample frames for proper analyses using the i-Tree Eco v6.0.25. It is a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service peer-reviewed application (software) designed which includes tools for urban and rural forestry study and benefits evaluations. The following microclimatic data were captured and analyzed photosynthetically active radiation, rain/precipitation, temperature, transpiration, evaporation, water intercepted by trees, runoff avoided by trees, potential evaporation by trees, and isoprene and monoterpene by trees. This study also further discusses the tree benefits of a green, low carbon, and sustainable environment within the context of biodiversity conservation, considering carbon storage, carbon sequestration, hydrology effects, pollution removal, oxygen production, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). There is a quick need for remotely-sensed information about the national parks, protected areas and nature reserves at regular intervals, and government policies must be strict against illegal poaching, logging activities, and other hazardous human impacts. Full article

The rapid urbanization of cities has resulted in the deterioration of urban forests and the loss of important benefits from green infrastructure, such as the removal of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) and carbon sequestration. The Mirador Sur Park is one of the main green spaces in the city of Santo Domingo. The objective of this research was to identify citizen participation in the design and management of urban forests as a strategy for guiding cities towards a more sustainable and resilient model in the face of climate change. In this study, changes in the park’s land use were identified, 136 park users were interviewed to find out their perception of the benefits of forest cover, and the ecosystem services of Mirador Sur Park were quantified using the i-Tree Canopy tool. It was found that the ecosystem services related to the removal of atmospheric pollutants are clearly perceived by the users of the park. However, there are other services that could not be identified if there is no relationship with the users of the park, such as those related to the benefits of human well-being. Citizens’ perception and appropriation are important elements for the co-management of the park, and it would be appropriate for them to become involved in the design and implementation of environmental public policies, as well as nature-based solutions, that contribute to adequate and inclusive urban planning aimed at adapting to climate change. Full article

Urban areas are experiencing major changes and facing significant sustainability challenges. Many cities are undergoing a transition towards a post-industrial phase and need to consider the regeneration of brownfield sites. Nature-Based Solutions (NBSs) are increasingly considered as tools for supporting this transition and promoting sustainable development by delivering multiple ecosystem services (ESs). Although the potential of NBSs as a cost-effective enabler of urban sustainability has been recognized, their implementation faces numerous barriers. The effective assessment of benefits delivered by urban NBSs is considered by existing literature as one of them. In order to contribute to filling this knowledge gap, we analyzed two alternative NBS-based intervention scenarios—i.e., (1) an urban forest and (2) meadows with sparse trees—for the redevelopment of an urban brownfield area within the municipality of Brescia (Northern Italy). Nine ESs were assessed both in biophysical and economic terms via a combination of modeling (InVEST, i-Tree and ESTIMAP) and traditional estimation methods. The results show that both scenarios improve ES stock and flow compared to the baseline, ensuring annual flows ranging between 140,000 and 360,000 EUR/year. Scenario 1 shows higher values when single ESs are considered, while scenario 2 shows higher total values, as it also accounts for the phytoremediation capacity that is not considered under the first scenario. All in all, regulating ESs represent the bulk of estimated ESs, thus highlighting the potential of proposed NBSs for improving urban resilience. The ES assessment and valuation exercise presented within this paper is an example of how research and practice can be integrated to inform urban management activities, and provide inputs for future decision making and planning regarding urban developments. Full article

With the uncertainties that our societies are living with (the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change), it becomes essential to provide urban planners and decision-makers with state-of-the-art and user-friendly methodologies to incorporate ecosystem service considerations into their designs for resilient cities. In this regard, urban forests play a crucial role. The quantification of the ecosystem services is geo-specific and needs studies in different urban contexts. At this scope, we evaluated the urban forest of a neighborhood of a densely built-up Italian city (Perugia) with a low level of urban greenery management and with a tree inventory still in progress. Furthermore, we defined a tool helpful in tree-planting decisions and management. This paper involves citizens in field research for trees inventory. Then, it uses i-Tree Eco to evaluate four ecosystem services (carbon storage and sequestration, pollution removal, and runoff avoided) provided by 373 inventoried urban trees belonging to 57 species. Our results show that Italian Municipal tree inventories do not adequately represent their urban forest and that citizens’ participation provides a cost-effective method for integrating field data. Finally, the paper develops an easy tool helping local administrations enhance the ecosystem services provisions in urban green design. Full article

The demand for urban ecosystem services increases with the rapid growth of the urban population. The urban forest is a crucial ecosystem services provider in cities. To achieve a better estimation of urban ecosystem services, an understanding of the link between heterogeneity and ecosystem services within cities is needed. Other than street trees and forest remnants, the contribution of dispersed green spaces should also be considered. In this study, a ground-based sample quadrat investigation of trees across a sequence of land types in Kyoto City was applied. The ecosystem services and monetary values of trees were further calculated using a customized i-Tree Eco tool. The ecosystem services calculated include carbon storage and sequestration, air pollutants removal, and runoff reduction. Ecosystem services of different land use classes were compared at both quadrat and single-tree levels. We found no significant difference across land use for all the ecosystem services at the quadrat level. However, ecosystem services were different across land use at the single-tree level. We performed a species-specific analysis and found that the pattern of ecosystem services at the single-tree level across land use varies with both the service tested and species. Our study suggests that the heterogeneity within a city should be considered when estimating urban ecosystem services. The results also provide insight into the urban green space management of Kyoto City. Full article

Understanding the ecosystem services provided by urban green spaces, in terms of their environmental, economic, and social benefits, is essential for a better management of area. Chulalongkorn University Centenary Park (CU 100) was established to mitigate the effects of climate change, especially flood prevention. This study focused on quantifying the ecosystem services provided by the trees in the park in terms of regulating and provisioning services. A publicly available tool, the i-Tree Eco international software, was used with data obtained from a local weather station as proxies to determine the accuracy of the analysis. Services, quantified in terms of monetary value, included avoided runoff, carbon storage, carbon sequestration, pollution removal, and timber price. The total monetary benefits, obtained from 697 trees (56 species, 49 genera, and 22 families), were estimated at USD 101,400. Of the total services, provisioning services contributed 75% to the total monetary value. Among all regulating services, the avoided runoff contributed about 60%, which was considered as the goal achieved by the park design. Azadirachta indica A. Juss (USD 518.75/tree⁻¹/year⁻¹), Shorea roxburghii G. Don (USD 417.17/tree⁻¹/year⁻¹) and Millettia leucantha Kurz (USD 414.87/tree⁻¹/year⁻¹) provided the greatest benefit, as indicated by a high value of provisioning services in terms of a high timber quality. These results can be used when planning the composition of trees to be planted in urban areas to increase both green spaces and maximize ecosystem services to improve the vitality of human well-being. Full article

One of the consequences of the constant urban development in numerous countries is a growing concentration of air pollution, which adversely affects both the environment and people’s health. One of the ways of changing this negative trend is to maintain green areas and trees within cities, as they serve many ecosystem functions, including biological absorption of particles and other types of air pollution. This article provides the findings of a study carried out among the residents of Warsaw, the capital of Poland, in order to assess social awareness of air pollution and the importance of trees. The study of the residents’ awareness was supplemented with the assessment of the parameters of the trees’ capacity for pollution absorption in selected locations performed with the help of the i-Tree Eco tool, which allowed the authors to compare the residents’ impressions on the role of trees in the process of absorption of pollution with their actual potential. The analyses showed that the majority of city residents are concerned with the problem of air in the city, but at the same time failing to notice its negative impact on their health. The majority of respondents were not aware of the role the trees play in the process of pollution absorption, suggesting that there is a real need for raising social awareness of functions served by trees and green areas in urban spaces. The comparison of the city residents’ opinions on the importance of trees in the process of pollution absorption with objective data obtained with the help of i-Tree Eco tool shows that the majority of people’s impressions of pollution absorption by trees in urban areas is correct. Full article

More communities around the world are recognizing the benefits of green infrastructure (GI) and are planting millions of trees to improve air quality and overall well-being in cities. However, there is a need for accurate tools that can measure and value these benefits whilst also informing the community and city managers. In recent years, several online tools have been developed to assess ecosystem services. However, the reliability of such tools depends on the incorporation of local or regional data and site-specific inputs. In this communication, we have reviewed two of the freely available tools (i.e., i-Tree Canopy and the United Kingdom Office for National Statistics) using Bristol City Centre as an example. We have also discussed strengths and weaknesses for their use and, as tree planting strategy tools, explored further developments of such tools in a European context. Results show that both tools can easily calculate ecosystem services such as air pollutant removal and monetary values and at the same time be used to support GI strategies in compact cities. These tools, however, can only be partially utilized for tree planting design as they do not consider soil and root space, nor do they include drawing and painting futures. Our evaluation also highlights major gaps in the current tools, suggesting areas where more research is needed. Full article