Pollution mitigation and carbon sequestration by an urban forest.

Area of Science:

• Urban Forestry
• Environmental Science
• Ecosystem Services

Background:

• Canberra's landscape was historically treeless, with extensive clearing by graziers.
• Large-scale tree planting began in 1911 after Canberra was selected as Australia's capital.
• Urban trees offer aesthetic and climatic benefits, with recent focus on pollution mitigation and carbon sequestration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the value of the Canberra urban forest, focusing on pollution mitigation.
• To assess the economic benefits of trees in reducing energy consumption, mitigating pollution, and sequestering carbon.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a tree inventory and a decision support system (DISMUT) for urban tree asset management.
• Estimated tree size during the Kyoto Commitment Period using DISMUT.
• Calculated the value of canopy cover based on literature estimates for ecosystem services.

Main Results:

• The Canberra urban forest is estimated to have provided US$20-67 million in value between 2008-2012.
• This value encompasses energy reduction, pollution mitigation, and carbon sequestration.
• The study demonstrates the significant economic and environmental contributions of urban trees.

Conclusions:

• The Canberra urban forest delivers substantial economic and environmental benefits beyond aesthetics and climate amelioration.
• Urban tree management systems like DISMUT are crucial for quantifying these ecosystem services.
• Investing in urban forests is vital for sustainable city development and climate change mitigation.