Assessment of ecosystem service values of urban parks in improving air quality: A case study of Wuhan, China

Abstract

Assessing ecosystem service values of urban parks can promote understanding of urban green space protection and management. In this study, ecosystem services of air quality purification from 40 sample parks with different areas and land cover compositions were assessed based on literature records and high-resolution images. Six typical ecological benefits of CO2 sequestration, O2 generation, air temperature amelioration, SO2 removal, NOx removal, and dust interception were estimated. The results showed similar proportions of different ecosystem service values to total. The ecological services of CO2 sequestration and O2 generation contributed the majority of total ecosystem service value, with percentages ranging from 69.34% to 73.76% and from 20.52% to 21.71%, respectively. There was very wide variation of ecosystem service values among urban parks. Multivariate regression between ecosystem service values and spatial characteristics of urban parks revealed that park areas of forest and water played a vital role in service value. For a given park, the total service value could be increased by up to 600% if the park was redesigned with consideration of land cover composition. This study provides sound scientific information for urban planners and greening designers to optimize urban park layout.