Urban forest assessment in Bangkok, Thailand

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe objective of this study was to conduct an urban forest assessment for Bangkok and pilot the appropriateness of adapting the i-Tree Eco International software in Thailand. Urban forest structure, function, and value were estimated from 184 stratified random sample plots. A total 48 tree species were encountered and the three most common that contributed 34.1% of total tree population were Polyalthia longifolia Sonn. (15.7%), Mangifera indica L. (13.0%), and Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.) Benth. (5.4%). The majority of trees (approximately 70%) were <23 cm in diameter. An estimated 2.5 (0.4 SEM) million trees with a canopy cover of 8.6% (1.3 SEM) exist in the Bangkok study area. These trees store an approximate total of 309,700 (73,726 SEM) metric tons of carbon and sequester 16,271 (2965 SEM) metric tons of CO2 annually. Additional research is needed to develop functional relationships for urban trees in Thailand to overcome a current limitation for using i-Tree Eco in Thailand to estimate structural and functional value of urban forests. Study results also provide land-use planners information on the current urban forest resource and the potential for future urban greening.