Effects of long term canopy change on regulating ecosystem services in a tropical urban park

Long-term management of urban parks is critical to maintaining urban sustainability. Regular examination of tree attributes is essential to maintain healthy tree growth, enabling them to deliver regulating ecosystem services (RES). Here, we examined the five-year changes, from 2019 to 2024, in RES and the monetary values provided by urban trees in Chulalongkorn University Centenary Park in Bangkok, Thailand. Using the i-Tree Eco model, we evaluated changes in canopy attributes and three RES: carbon sequestration, air purification, and stormwater runoff reduction. While the total monetary value of RES increased by 126% to 3,491 USD y^- 1 in 2024, 37% of the original trees were lost due to mortality and management practices, resulting in an annual monetary loss of 886 USD y^- 1. Evergreen trees showed greater increases in canopy attributes and RES compared to deciduous trees. The study revealed that the mortality rate was more than double the default rate assumed in common forecasting models, primarily due to human management rather than natural causes. The findings point out the need to consider human intervention in urban forest management and emphasize that while urban parks have substantial potential for providing ecosystem services, improper management can significantly impair their long-term ecological and economic benefits.