The role of ecosystem services in climate and air quality in urban areas: Evaluating carbon sequestration and air pollution removal by street and park trees in Szeged (Hungary)

Márton Kiss,Ágnes Takács,Ágnes Gulyás,Réka Pogácsás

doi:10.1515/mgr-2015-0016

Márton Kiss, Ágnes Takács + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1515/mgr-2015-0016

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Journal: Moravian Geographical Reports	Publication Date: Sep 1, 2015
Citations: 36	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Szeged

Abstract

Abstract The evaluation of ecosystem services can provide essential help in incorporatating the multifunctionality of urban ecosystems in planning and management processes. Two important regulating services of urban trees, carbon sequestration and air pollution removal, are evaluated in this article for different types of tree stands (streets, parks) in the city centre of Szeged (Hungary). The necessary calculations were carried out by an adaptation of the targeted model (i-Tree Eco), based on a large complete tree inventory dataset. The analyses revealed the main tendencies in differences between tree species considering the tree condition, which affects the service-providing capacity to a high degree. The effects of differences in tree management on the chosen ecosystem services were investigated by comparing two pairs of tree alleys. Based on our observations, clear cuts and complete tree alley changes are not advisable from an ecosystem service point of view.

Highlights

The rapid growth of urban populations and global climate change call for the elaboration and evaluation of different adaptation and mitigation strategies in these antropogenically-modified climatic circumstances
The total urban forest of the city is characterised by high species diversity: exactly 100 species can be found in this area, slightly larger than 2 km2
If we examine the different pollutants separately, it is clear that the highest amounts are removed from those pollutants that have the highest concentrations in the city in general

Summary

Introduction

The rapid growth of urban populations and global climate change call for the elaboration and evaluation of different adaptation and mitigation strategies in these antropogenically-modified climatic circumstances. Among these strategies, one of the most important is the planting and maintenance of trees and other green spaces. Studies have been carried out to express the monetary value of these effects, using the methodologies of hedonic pricing (Donovan and Butry, 2011; Sander et al, 2010), choice experiments (Giergiczny and Kronenberg, 2014) and travel costs (Teknomo, 2005)

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