Urban areas profoundly alter the local atmosphere, hydrology and biology, usually for the worse. Increasing the vegetative cover in urbanised areas is considered an effective way of offsetting many of the undesirable outcomes of... more
Urban areas profoundly alter the local atmosphere, hydrology and biology, usually for the worse. Increasing the vegetative cover in urbanised areas is considered an effective way of offsetting many of the undesirable outcomes of urbanisation and is often incorporated as Green Infrastructure into urban development plans. In this paper we present a first assessment of the green cover in Irish city centres (Belfast, Cork, Derry, Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Waterford) and evaluate the environmental benefits of trees for air quality using the i-Tree Canopy software. This online software is used to conduct a spatial sample of the urban landscape and estimate tree canopy cover from which potential air quality benefits are calculated. The results show significant differences between and within city centre areas in terms of vegetative (and tree) cover; Belfast and Dublin, with less than 10% vegetative cover are in marked contrast to other cities where the average is close to 30%. Based on the findings we discuss place-based policies for improving green infrastructure in Irish cities and the evidence needed to support policies.
types using non-destructive method. We measured 853 (DBH ≥ 5 cm) stems within 102 plots over 19.41 ha. The mean and standard error of neem structural characteristics were density 48±9.06 stem/ha, basal area was 5.23±0.93 m 2 /ha, tree... more
types using non-destructive method. We measured 853 (DBH ≥ 5 cm) stems within 102 plots over 19.41 ha. The mean and standard error of neem structural characteristics were density 48±9.06 stem/ha, basal area was 5.23±0.93 m 2 /ha, tree cover was 26.84±4.48%. Neem trees structural characteristics varied significantly across land use and land cover types (P = 000.1). Big stems (40 > cm) contributed about 72% to the total aboveground biomass. The mean carbon density was 24.17±3.50 t/ha. While the highest carbon stock was observed in commercial areas (67.05±27.49 t/ha), the second lowest carbon stock was in administrative areas (14.04±2.71 t/ha). Neem trees should be accounted for in urban land use planning and national biomass carbon inventory. These results complement the international tree carbon dataset and reference level from Sahel city for climate change mitigation.
Urban areas profoundly alter the local atmosphere, hydrology and biology, usually for the worse. Increasing the vegetative cover in urbanised areas is considered an effective way of offsetting many of the undesirable outcomes of... more
Urban areas profoundly alter the local atmosphere, hydrology and biology, usually for the worse. Increasing the vegetative cover in urbanised areas is considered an effective way of offsetting many of the undesirable outcomes of urbanisation and is often incorporated as Green Infrastructure into urban development plans. In this paper we present a first assessment of the green cover in Irish city centres (Belfast, Cork, Derry, Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Waterford) and evaluate the environmental benefits of trees for air quality using the i-Tree Canopy software. This online software is used to conduct a spatial sample of the urban landscape and estimate tree canopy cover from which potential air quality benefits are calculated. The results show significant differences between and within city centre areas in terms of vegetative (and tree) cover; Belfast and Dublin, with less than 10% vegetative cover are in marked contrast to other cities where the average is close to 30%. Based on t...
types using non-destructive method. We measured 853 (DBH ≥ 5 cm) stems within 102 plots over 19.41 ha. The mean and standard error of neem structural characteristics were density 48±9.06 stem/ha, basal area was 5.23±0.93 m 2 /ha, tree... more
types using non-destructive method. We measured 853 (DBH ≥ 5 cm) stems within 102 plots over 19.41 ha. The mean and standard error of neem structural characteristics were density 48±9.06 stem/ha, basal area was 5.23±0.93 m 2 /ha, tree cover was 26.84±4.48%. Neem trees structural characteristics varied significantly across land use and land cover types (P = 000.1). Big stems (40 > cm) contributed about 72% to the total aboveground biomass. The mean carbon density was 24.17±3.50 t/ha. While the highest carbon stock was observed in commercial areas (67.05±27.49 t/ha), the second lowest carbon stock was in administrative areas (14.04±2.71 t/ha). Neem trees should be accounted for in urban land use planning and national biomass carbon inventory. These results complement the international tree carbon dataset and reference level from Sahel city for climate change mitigation.
types using non-destructive method. We measured 853 (DBH ≥ 5 cm) stems within 102 plots over 19.41 ha. The mean and standard error of neem structural characteristics were density 48±9.06 stem/ha, basal area was 5.23±0.93 m 2 /ha, tree... more
types using non-destructive method. We measured 853 (DBH ≥ 5 cm) stems within 102 plots over 19.41 ha. The mean and standard error of neem structural characteristics were density 48±9.06 stem/ha, basal area was 5.23±0.93 m 2 /ha, tree cover was 26.84±4.48%. Neem trees structural characteristics varied significantly across land use and land cover types (P = 000.1). Big stems (40 > cm) contributed about 72% to the total aboveground biomass. The mean carbon density was 24.17±3.50 t/ha. While the highest carbon stock was observed in commercial areas (67.05±27.49 t/ha), the second lowest carbon stock was in administrative areas (14.04±2.71 t/ha). Neem trees should be accounted for in urban land use planning and national biomass carbon inventory. These results complement the international tree carbon dataset and reference level from Sahel city for climate change mitigation.
Urban trees play a crucial role in carbon offset. Nevertheless, much attention has been focused on natural trees role in atmospheric carbon reduction. Specifically, in Niger, the estimation of carbon stock of urban trees remains... more
Urban trees play a crucial role in carbon offset. Nevertheless, much attention has been focused on natural trees role in atmospheric carbon reduction. Specifically, in Niger, the estimation of carbon stock of urban trees remains unexplored areas for climate change mitigation. The objective of the paper was to estimate the carbon stock of Azadirachta indica in Niamey. We assessed the structure and carbon stocks of neem trees across urban land use and land cover types using non-destructive method. We measured 853 (DBH ≥ 5 cm) stems within 102 plots over 19.41 ha. The mean and standard error of neem structural characteristics were density 48±9.06 stems/ha, basal area was 5.23±0.93 m 2 /ha, tree cover was 26.84±4.48%. Neem tree structural characteristics varied significantly across land use and land cover types (P = 000.1). Big stems (40 > cm) contributed about 72% to the total aboveground biomass. The mean carbon density was 24.17±3.50 t/ha. While the highest carbon stock was observed in commercial areas (67.05±27.49 t/ha), the second lowest carbon stock was in administrative areas (14.04±2.71 t/ha). Neem trees should be accounted for in urban land use planning and national biomass carbon inventory. These results complement the international tree carbon dataset and reference level from Sahel city for climate change mitigation.
Urban areas profoundly alter the local atmosphere, hydrology and biology, usually for the worse. Increasing the vegetative cover in urbanised areas is considered an effective way of offsetting many of the undesirable outcomes of... more
Urban areas profoundly alter the local atmosphere, hydrology and biology, usually for the worse. Increasing the vegetative cover in urbanised areas is considered an effective way of offsetting many of the undesirable outcomes of urbanisation and is often incorporated as Green Infrastructure into urban development plans. In this paper we present a first assessment of the green cover in Irish city centres (Belfast, Cork, Derry, Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Waterford) and evaluate the environmental benefits of trees for air quality using the i-Tree Canopy software. This online software is used to conduct a spatial sample of the urban landscape and estimate tree canopy cover from which potential air quality benefits are calculated. The results show significant differences between and within city centre areas in terms of vegetative (and tree) cover; Belfast and Dublin, with less than 10% vegetative cover are in marked contrast to other cities where the average is close to 30%. Based on t...
