Oxygen productivity of urban forests of Kyiv city as a constituent of its sustainable development

Abstract

The oxygen-producing function of urban forests is an integral factor in creating favourable living conditions for the population in an urbanized environment. Managerial decisions aimed at the development of environmental potential in urban forests shall be based on sustainable development goals and ensure the balanced use of their ecosystem functions. As a result of the research, quantitative values of the oxygen productivity of urban forests in Kyiv have been computed. Also, we have analysed the influence of the main biometric characteristics of stands on the intensity of their oxygen production capacity. The informational basis for evaluating the oxygen productivity of urban forests consists of research data that reflects the silvicultural characteristics of more than 14,000 forested plots featuring different species composition, age, and site index class, growing in different types of conditions. As a methodological basis, we have applied the semi-empirical method, which involves assessing the net primary production of ecosystems. The proposed quantitative values of oxygen productivity in Kyiv’s urban forests serve as an information component in forming a sustainable development strategy for the preservation and extended restoration of forest ecosystems in the region.