Structure and carbon capture of the urban green areas of Linares, Nuevo León

Abstract

Urban green areas play a transcendental role in small and large cities. The objective of the study was to determine the structure andcarbon sequestration of urban green trees in Linares, Nuevo León. The information was collected in 41 urban green areas,distributed in 21 squares, 14 parks and 6 ridges, occupying an area of 27.39 ha. The normal diameter (d₁.₃₀), the total height (h), andthe crown diameter (dcₒₚₐ) were decreased. A total of 2,066 individuals were identified, which are located in 26 families, 38 generaand 41 species. The most represented family was Fabaceae with five taxa followed by Arecaceae, Fagaceae and Moraceae withthree each. The native species were distributed in height class IV (4 – 5.99 m) with 635 individuals and in diameter class VII (24 –27.99 cm) with 250 being similar to the species used in height class IV. (6 – 7.99 m) with 185 but different in the diameter classobtaining VIII (28 – 31.99 cm) with 99. The native species registered 458.93 Mg of biomass and 213.71 Mg of carbon, being themost representative species Fraxinus berlandieriana with 269.76 Mg and 126.79 Mg. The sent species registered 57.45 Mg ofbiomass and 28.68 Mg of carbon, being the species Ligustrum japonicum the most represented with 16.10 Mg and 8.05 Mgrespectively. It is concluded that the urban green areas of Linares, Nuevo León, captured more carbon from native species thanfrom discarded species.