Estimating Carbon Sequestration Based on Urban Tree Species: Findings From Bucharest
Estimating Carbon Sequestration Based on Urban Tree Species: Findings From Bucharest

Summary/Abstract: Urbanization has intensified since the First Industrial Revolution, generating acute socioeconomic and environmental pressures for local authorities, particularly in relation to air quality management. Declining air quality in urbanized areas remains a central challenge, and urban spaces with vegetation, especially urban trees, are increasingly valued for their regulatory ecosystem services. This study examines the potential of urban trees for CO2 sequestration in Bucharest, Romania. Tree distribution and species composition were spatially represented with geographic information systems (GIS) based on data from the city’s Green Registry, and sequestration potential was quantified using validated assessment tools. The results reveal pronounced spatial disparities, with substantial deficiencies in tree cover across several districts. The capacity of areas covered by trees and shrubs to sequester CO2 is negligible relative to overall urban emission levels. Native species display greater sequestration efficiency, although nonnative species dominate urban landscapes, largely reflecting financial and aesthetic preferences in planting practices. These findings underscore the limited regulatory impact of current urban tree cover on carbon sequestration and emphasize the need for targeted, nature-based strategies – particularly the expansion of native vegetation – to support urban carbon sequestration management.

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