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Vegetation Structure, Species Composition, and Carbon Sink Potential of Urban Green Spaces in Nagpur City, India

Author

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  • Shruti Lahoti

    (United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS), Tokyo 150-8925, Japan)

  • Ashish Lahoti

    (Independent Researcher, Tokyo 136-0073, Japan)

  • Rajendra Kumar Joshi

    (Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India)

  • Osamu Saito

    (Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), Kanagawa 240-0115, Japan)

Abstract

Nagpur is rapidly urbanizing, and in the process witnessing decline in its green status which is one of the identities of the city. The study aims to understand the current species diversity, composition and structure in different classes of greens prevalent in the city. As urban green spaces (UGS) are also reservoirs of carbon stock, the study estimates their biomass. Through rigorous field work, data were collected from 246 sample plots across various UGS classes as pre-stratification. Then the biomass was estimated using non-destructive method with species-specific equation. The diversity of tree species recorded in UGS varies, with high diversity recorded in avenue plantation and institutional compounds. The overall variation in species composition among UGS classes was 36.8%. While in managed greens the species composition was similar, in institutional greens and forest it was different. Particularly, in forest the evenness was high with low diversity and low species richness. The structural distribution indicate lack of old trees in the city, with high number of tree species between diameter classes of 10–40 cm. Biomass was recorded high in road-side plantations (335 t ha −1 ) and playgrounds (324 t ha −1 ), and trees with bigger girth size where the main contributors. The dominant species indicates that high growth rate, tolerance to drought and pollution are the key attributes considered for species selection by local authorities. Though the city holds green image, vegetation along the avenues and institutions are stressed, exposed, and threatened by felling activities for grey infrastructure expansions. In such scenario, protection and preservation of older trees is crucial to maintain the carbon stock of the city. In addition, local authorities need to focus on effective afforestation programs through public participation to achieve high survival rate and reduce the maintenance cost. For species selection in addition to phenology and growth rate, tree biomass and life span needs to be considered to significantly enhance the urban environment and increase the benefits derived from UGS.

Suggested Citation

  • Shruti Lahoti & Ashish Lahoti & Rajendra Kumar Joshi & Osamu Saito, 2020. "Vegetation Structure, Species Composition, and Carbon Sink Potential of Urban Green Spaces in Nagpur City, India," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-20, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:9:y:2020:i:4:p:107-:d:340218
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Shruti Lahoti & Mohamed Kefi & Ashish Lahoti & Osamu Saito, 2019. "Mapping Methodology of Public Urban Green Spaces Using GIS: An Example of Nagpur City, India," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-23, April.
    2. Avni ANAMIKA & Chaudhry PRADEEP, 2016. "Urban Vegetation and Air Pollution Mitigation: Some Issues from India," Chinese Journal of Urban and Environmental Studies (CJUES), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 4(01), pages 1-10, March.
    3. K.S. Murali & D.M. Bhat & N.H. Ravindranath, 2005. "Biomass estimation equations for tropical deciduous and evergreen forests," International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 4(1), pages 81-92.
    4. United Nations, 2016. "The Sustainable Development Goals 2016," Working Papers id:11456, eSocialSciences.
    5. Saskia Keesstra & Gerben Mol & Jan De Leeuw & Joop Okx & Co Molenaar & Margot De Cleen & Saskia Visser, 2018. "Soil-Related Sustainable Development Goals: Four Concepts to Make Land Degradation Neutrality and Restoration Work," Land, MDPI, vol. 7(4), pages 1-20, November.
    6. Raymond, Christopher M. & Frantzeskaki, Niki & Kabisch, Nadja & Berry, Pam & Breil, Margaretha & Nita, Mihai Razvan & Geneletti, Davide & Calfapietra, Carlo, 2017. "A framework for assessing and implementing the co-benefits of nature-based solutions in urban areas," Environmental Science & Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 15-24.
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    Cited by:

    1. Lige Xu & Kailun Fang & Yu Huang & Shuangyu Xu, 2023. "Demand Priority of Green Space from the Perspective of Carbon Emissions and Storage," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-16, July.
    2. Sandeep Kumar & Fulena Rajak, 2023. "Assessment of Urban Green Open Spaces of Micro- and Meso-Level Zones, Based on the Growth Pattern: Case of Patna City," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-29, January.
    3. Diana Dushkova & Annegret Haase & Manuel Wolff & Dagmar Haase, 2021. "Editorial for Special Issue “Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) in Cities and Their Interactions with Urban Land, Ecosystems, Built Environments and People: Debating Societal Implications”," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-7, September.
    4. Yugang Chen & Changkun Xie & Ruiyuan Jiang & Shengquan Che, 2021. "Optimization of Ecosystem Services of Shanghai Urban–Suburban Street Trees Based on Low-Carbon Targets," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-16, November.
    5. Xuancheng Zhao & Fengshi Li & Yongzhi Yan & Qing Zhang, 2022. "Biodiversity in Urban Green Space: A Bibliometric Review on the Current Research Field and Its Prospects," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-15, October.

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