Nature and city in sync: a study on the carbon sequestration potential of urban trees in a brownfield redevelopment in FTI Complex, Taguig City, Philippines

Abstract

Redevelopment of brownfields, such as former industrial sites, has the potential to adopt sustainable development strategies while retaining its cultural significance and adjunct with the UN Sustainable Development Goals for sustainable cities and communities. Increasing the carbon sequestration effect is one of the many ecosystem services provided by integrating trees acclimatized to urban environments. The study aims to determine how much total carbon sequestration potential can be achieved by the existing and newly-introduced trees in a brownfield redevelopment in FTI Complex, Taguig City, Philippines. It is a 74-hectare property, formerly an industrial food processing facility, turned into a mixed-use development. A tree inventory was created by mapping the existing trees pre-development, the lost trees due to land preparation, and the newly-introduced trees. The biomass values were assumed for one tree species, and the data resulted in a net gain corresponding to a 1,002% increase in carbon sequestration potential in a 50-year period. While still an ongoing development, trees take time to mature and there is a need to address carbon emissions before the trees reach their optimum carbon sequestration potential. Upon maturity, they will contribute to further improving the site’s ecosystem services, thereby making the former brownfield a sustainable development.