IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jlands/v14y2025i3p653-d1616031.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Influence of Tree Community Characteristics on Carbon Sinks in Urban Parks: A Case Study of Xinyang, China

Author

Listed:
  • Honglin Zhang

    (International Union Laboratory of Landscape Architecture, College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China)

  • Qiutan Ren

    (International Union Laboratory of Landscape Architecture, College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China)

  • Yuyang Zhou

    (International Union Laboratory of Landscape Architecture, College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China)

  • Nalin Dong

    (International Union Laboratory of Landscape Architecture, College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China)

  • Hua Wang

    (International Union Laboratory of Landscape Architecture, College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China)

  • Yongge Hu

    (College of Tourism, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China)

  • Peihao Song

    (International Union Laboratory of Landscape Architecture, College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China)

  • Ruizhen He

    (International Union Laboratory of Landscape Architecture, College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China)

  • Guohang Tian

    (International Union Laboratory of Landscape Architecture, College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China)

  • Shidong Ge

    (International Union Laboratory of Landscape Architecture, College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
    MOE Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Land Surface Processes and Ecological Conservation, School of the Geographical Science, Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810016, China)

Abstract

Cities are major contributors to global carbon emissions; however, urban parks offer substantial potential for carbon sinks. Research on factors influencing carbon capture in urban park vegetation is still limited. This study investigates 81 urban parks in Xinyang, Henan Province, to quantify woody plant carbon storage (CS) and sequestration (CSG). By surveying all vegetation types and quantities in these parks, along with factors like park attributes, community structure, biodiversity, spatial distribution, woody plant connectivity, and spatial complexity, we create statistical models for CS and CSG. The results indicate that the average carbon storage density (CSD) in Xinyang’s urban parks is 4.01 kg/m 2 , while the carbon sequestration density (CSGD) is 0.39 kg·C·m 2 ·yr −1 . The dominant tree species are Ligustrum lucidum , Osmanthus fragrans , and Lagerstroemia indica , while species with higher carbon sequestration potential, such as Glyptostrobus pensilis , Populus deltoides , and Albizia kalkora , reveal a discrepancy between common and high-sequestration species. The study shows that park characteristics, community structure, and biodiversity are key factors impacting urban carbon sink capacity. By analyzing the relationship between these factors and carbon sinks in urban park vegetation, we create a comprehensive framework for assessing tree CS and CSG, offering quantitative support to improve carbon capture in urban parks.

Suggested Citation

  • Honglin Zhang & Qiutan Ren & Yuyang Zhou & Nalin Dong & Hua Wang & Yongge Hu & Peihao Song & Ruizhen He & Guohang Tian & Shidong Ge, 2025. "Influence of Tree Community Characteristics on Carbon Sinks in Urban Parks: A Case Study of Xinyang, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-21, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:14:y:2025:i:3:p:653-:d:1616031
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/3/653/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/3/653/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yanyan Wei & Chi-Yung Jim & Jun Gao & Min Zhao, 2023. "Determinants of Aboveground Carbon Storage of Woody Vegetation in an Urban–Rural Transect in Shanghai, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-14, May.
    2. Leilei Yang & Junhui Zhang & Jiahui Wang & Shijie Han & Zhongling Guo & Chunnan Fan & Jinghua Yu, 2024. "Relationships between Tree Species Diversity and Aboveground Biomass Are Mediated by Site-Dependent Factors in Northeastern China Natural Reserves on a Small Spatial Scale," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-18, September.
    3. Jue Wang & Rui Wang, 2024. "The Impact of Urbanization on Environmental Quality in Ecologically Fragile Areas: Evidence from Hengduan Mountain, Southwest China," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-18, April.
    4. Chen, Yun & Guerschman, Juan P & Cheng, Zhibo & Guo, Longzhu, 2019. "Remote sensing for vegetation monitoring in carbon capture storage regions: A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 240(C), pages 312-326.
    5. Zuoming Zhang & Xiaoying Wan & Kaixi Sheng & Hanyue Sun & Lei Jia & Jiachao Peng, 2023. "Impact of Carbon Sequestration by Terrestrial Vegetation on Economic Growth: Evidence from Chinese County Satellite Data," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-19, January.
    6. Zhenjie Dong & Lin Hou & Qi Ruan, 2023. "Effect of Elevation Gradient on Carbon Pools in a Juniperus przewalskii Kom. Forest in Qinghai, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-13, April.
    7. Chen, Jiandong & Fan, Wei & Li, Ding & Liu, Xin & Song, Malin, 2020. "Driving factors of global carbon footprint pressure: Based on vegetation carbon sequestration," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 267(C).
    8. N. L. Stephenson & A. J. Das & R. Condit & S. E. Russo & P. J. Baker & N. G. Beckman & D. A. Coomes & E. R. Lines & W. K. Morris & N. Rüger & E. Álvarez & C. Blundo & S. Bunyavejchewin & G. Chuyong & , 2014. "Rate of tree carbon accumulation increases continuously with tree size," Nature, Nature, vol. 507(7490), pages 90-93, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Lu, Hongwei & Li, Tingting & Li, Guojing & Luo, Qiyou & Gao, Mingjie, 2025. "Digital literacy and the rural cooking energy transition: Evidence from rural China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    2. João Lucas Della-Silva & Carlos Antonio da Silva Junior & Mendelson Lima & Paulo Eduardo Teodoro & Marcos Rafael Nanni & Luciano Shozo Shiratsuchi & Larissa Pereira Ribeiro Teodoro & Guilherme Fernand, 2022. "CO 2 Flux Model Assessment and Comparison between an Airborne Hyperspectral Sensor and Orbital Multispectral Imagery in Southern Amazonia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-15, May.
    3. Gao, Ming, 2023. "The impacts of carbon trading policy on China's low-carbon economy based on county-level perspectives," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    4. Lee, Chi-Chuan & Zhang, Jian & Hou, Shanshuai, 2023. "The impact of regional renewable energy development on environmental sustainability in China," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    5. Kekui Chen & Jianming Fu & Yun Gong & Jian Wang & Shilin Lv & Yajie Liu & Jingyun Li, 2022. "Study on the Influencing Factors of CO 2 from the Perspective of CO 2 Mitigation Potentials," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-22, July.
    6. Qinghua Pang & Min Xiang & Lina Zhang, 2024. "Analysis and prediction of carbon emissions from food consumption of middle-income groups: evidence from Yangtze River Economic Belt in China," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(2), pages 3481-3505, February.
    7. Ding, Dan & Liu, Xiaoping & Xu, Xiaocong, 2024. "Projecting the future fine-resolution carbon dioxide emissions under the shared socioeconomic pathways for carbon peak evaluation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 365(C).
    8. Fan, Wei & Li, Li & Wang, Feiran & Li, Ding, 2020. "Driving factors of CO2 emission inequality in China: The role of government expenditure," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    9. Shi, Qiaoling & Zhao, Yuhuan & Qian, Zhiling & Zheng, Lu & Wang, Song, 2022. "Global value chains participation and carbon emissions: Evidence from Belt and Road countries," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 310(C).
    10. Zhisheng Liang & Shuhong Wu & Youjun He & Caihua Zhou & Jie Yu & Xi Nie & Yunjian Luo & Yuelan Hao & Jianjun Wang & Weiyang Zhao & Qihui Gao & Qinxu Xiu & Jinghui Meng, 2025. "China Certified Emission Reduction Projects: Historical and Current Status, Development, and Future Prospects—Taking Forestry Projects as an Example," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-24, April.
    11. Huang, Yuan & Yu, Qiang & Wang, Ruirui, 2021. "Driving factors and decoupling effect of carbon footprint pressure in China: Based on net primary production," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    12. Crismeire Isbaex & Ana Margarida Coelho & Ana Cristina Gonçalves & Adélia M. O. Sousa, 2024. "Mapping of Forest Species Using Sentinel-2A Images in the Alentejo and Algarve Regions, Portugal," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-21, December.
    13. Tongyue Zhang & Mengyang Hou & Liqi Chu & Lili Wang, 2022. "Can the Establishment of National Key Ecological Function Areas Enhance Vegetation Carbon Sink? A Quasi-Natural Experiment Evidence from China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-21, September.
    14. Ohmura, Tamaki & Creutzburg, Leonard, 2021. "Guarding the For(es)t: Sustainable economy conflicts and stakeholder preference of policy instruments," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    15. Lu, Shibao & Bai, Xiao & Zhang, Jin & Li, Jinkai & Li, Wei & Lin, Ji, 2022. "Impact of virtual water export on water resource security associated with the energy and food bases in Northeast China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    16. Yang, Yuanyuan & Yang, Mingying & Zhao, Boxuan & Lu, Ziwen & Sun, Xiao & Zhang, Zhengfeng, 2025. "Spatially explicit carbon emissions from land use change: Dynamics and scenario simulation in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    17. Nelė Jurkėnaitė & Tomas Baležentis & Dalia Štreimikienė, 2022. "The sustainability prism of structural changes in the European Union agricultural system: The nexus between production, employment and energy emissions," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(1), pages 145-158, January.
    18. Upeksha Caldera & Christian Breyer, 2023. "Afforesting arid land with renewable electricity and desalination to mitigate climate change," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 6(5), pages 526-538, May.
    19. Felipe Victorero & Waldo Bustamante, 2025. "Timber Biogenic Carbon Stock in the Urban Environment: Santiago City as a Second Forest," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-23, January.
    20. Wu, Xianhua & Deng, Huai & Li, Hua & Guo, Yiming, 2021. "Impact of Energy Structure Adjustment and Environmental Regulation on Air Pollution in China: Simulation and Measurement Research by the Dynamic General Equilibrium Model," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:14:y:2025:i:3:p:653-:d:1616031. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.