Sequestro de carbono por árvores urbanas no bairro das Graças em Recife - PE

Abstract

The rapid expansion of urban areas, coupled with changes in land use, has undermined the presence of native vegetation and this alteration occurs concurrently with the escalation of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. In response, urban afforestation is employed to mitigate the consequences arising from the disorderly growth of urban centers. The present research aims to estimate and quantify the carbon sequestration potential through street tree planting in the Graças neighborhood, Recife - PE. The study was based on urban forest inventory and the collection of dendrometric variables (height, DBH, canopy area), followed by data tabulation using Microsoft Excel software. Using the inventory data, carbon sequestration per species was estimated using the I-tree eco platform and allometric equations employed by the platform to obtain carbon sequestration values. A total of 137 tree individuals distributed among 30 different species were inventoried, collectively sequestering 4.04 tons/year of carbon from the atmosphere. Determination of the total sequestered carbon considered variables like total height, diameter at breast height, and dry weight calculated by the platform itself. The species with the highest carbon sequestration potential was Senna siamea (1.15 tons/year), followed by Licania tomentosa (0.65 tons/year) and Filicium decipiens (0.32 tons/year). Thus, the implementation of tree-covered areas, whether street tree planting or parks and green areas, with a focus on species with rapid growth in both height and diameter, is highlighted.