Conceptualising the Citizen-Driven Urban Forest Framework to Improve Local Climate Condition: Geospatial Data Fusion and Numerical Simulation

Abstract

AbstractRapid urbanisation has boosted demand for ecosystem goods and services, accelerating land-use development. This is concerning because urban forest acreage and biodiversity would be on the declining trend. With the heat island effect, radiant heat, and soil moisture evaporation all on the rise, this “urban infill” may place additional strain on existing trees and natural spaces while limiting space for new trees. Due to the scarcity of urban land and soil resources, careful planning is required to provide adequate greenery while balancing carbon emissions. Continued global warming will have a negative impact on Malaysia’s biodiversity. Our urban forest ecosystem is just one of many. In cities where air pollution and water management are issues, urban forests provide essential ecosystem services such as air and water filtering, which are critical to human health. Findings show that the collective efforts of individuals under a citizen-driven urban forestry (CDUF) framework might have a substantial influence on reducing high urban air temperatures, suggesting that the collective actions of individual citizens to increase urban forest cover can produce a significant effect on the mitigation of high air temperatures due to the urban heat island effect and climate change. Leveraging the richness of satellite data archive, geospatial technology, and several numerical simulation methods availability, the urban forest’s vulnerability and adaptive capacity are sought to be quantified. Thus, conceptualising and reviewing the existing approach and framework of CDUF are critical, as they may aid in the conservation of urban forest biodiversity while mitigating the impacts of climate change.KeywordsUrban forestGeospatialCitizen-drivenSDG13Urban climate