Air pollution removal by the urban forest in the Aburra Valley

Abstract

Urban forests provide different ecosystem services including air pollution removal, carbon storage and sequestration, microclimate and water regulation, and habitat for wildlife. This results in the improvement of environmental quality and population’s welfare. In this study, we evaluated the urban forest structure in the Aburra Valley, and quantified and valuated the pollutant removal by urban trees using the “i-Tree” Eco software. We established 398 plots for forest sampling, and used secondary information about climatic conditions and air pollution. Results reveal that there is 23% of tree coverage in the study area, and a pollutant removal of 228 tons per year (2.1 million USD value approximately). Finally, we recommended strategies to optimize the pollutant removal by the urban forest and to create mechanisms for compensation of tree cover loss.