2026-04-05T11:49:39Zhttps://recercat.cat/oai/request

oai:recercat.cat:2117/4461802026-01-10T02:12:37Zcom_2072_1033col_2072_452950

Integrating Urban Tree Carbon Sequestration into Metropolitan Ecosystem Services for Climate-Neutral Cities: A Citizen Science-Based Methodology Mazón Bueso, Jordi Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Desenvolupament humà i sostenible::Medi ambient Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Desenvolupament humà i sostenible::Política i gestió ambiental Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Desenvolupament humà i sostenible::Enginyeria ambiental Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria agroalimentària::Impacte ambiental Green infrastructure CO2 sequestration Urban trees Quantification Climate-neutral city Citizen science Urban planning Urban trees play a critical role in mitigating climate change by capturing atmospheric CO2 and providing multiple co-benefits, including cooling urban environments, reducing building energy demand, and enhancing citizens’ physical and psychological well-being. This study presents the Co Carbon Trees Measurement project, a citizen science initiative implemented in the city of Viladecans, Spain, involving 658 students, local administration, and academia, three components of the EU mission’s quadruple helix governance model. Over one year, 1274 urban trees were measured for trunk diameter and height to quantify annual CO2 sequestration using a direct measurement approach combining field data collection with a mobile application for a height assessment and a flexible measuring tape for diameter. Results indicate that carbon fixation increases with tree size, displaying a parabolic function with larger trees sequestering significantly more CO2. A range between 10 and 20 kg of CO2 is sequestered by the urban trees in the period 2024–2025. The study also highlights the broader benefits of urban trees, including shading, mitigation of the urban heat island effect, and positive impacts on mental health and social cohesion. While the total CO2 captured in Viladecans (˜810 tons/year) is small relative to city emissions (˜170,000 tons/year), the methodology demonstrates a scalable, replicable approach for monitoring progress toward climate neutrality and integrating urban trees into planning and climate action strategies. This approach positions green infrastructure as a central component of sustainable and resilient urban development. 3 - Salut i Benestar 11 - Ciutats i Comunitats Sostenibles 13 - Acció per al Clima 17 - Aliança per a Aconseguir els Objectius Postprint (published version) 2025-11-06 Article https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/9/11/463 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Open Access Attribution 4.0 International Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)