Screening Tree Species for Carbon Storage Potential through Urban Tree Inventory in Planted Vegetation

Abstract

Urban tree inventory is a great tool for gathering data that can be used by different end users. This study attempted to chart the species diversity in planted areas and measure their tree diameter at breast height to screen them for the carbon storage potential. A total of 2860 trees belonging to 36 species were recorded in the planted vegetation in parks and avenue plantation. The dominant species were Azadirachta indicia (25.5%), Conocarpus erectus (19.2%), Ficus spp. (15.5%), Tabebuia rosea (9.2%), Peitophorum pterocarpum (9.0%) and the remaining represents (21.6%) of the tree identified in this study. It was found that the highest contribution of carbon sequestration (CO2 equivalent) is dominated by the Ficus spp. (30.3%) with a total of 3399.3 tCO2eq, followed by Azadirachta indicia (25.4%) with a total of 2845.2 tCO2eq and Conocarpus erectus (20.4%) with a total of 2286 tCO2eq. The entire area has the capability to sequester around 11,213.3 tCO2eq and on average of 3.9 ± 0.1 tCO2eq. In accordance with the findings, it is imperative for the preservation of a sustainable environment to have vegetation that has the capacity to store carbon. The study suggests, there is potential to increase carbon sequestration in urban cities through plantation programs on existing and new land uses and along roads.