Volumetric equation development and carbon storage estimation of urban forest in Daejeon, Korea

Abstract

This study was performed to develop equations which are suitable for estimating carbon storage of urban forest in Daejeon, Korea and to evaluate carbon storage and sequestration of urban forest using developed equations. Among the urban forest, we only concern about the major street tree species (Platanus occidentalis, Ginko biloba, Zelkova serrata, Chionanthus retusa, and Acer pseudo-sieboldianum) which are planted alongside a road for vehicles as well as pedestrian in urban area. Developed equations showed R2 of 0.93 (Z. serrata), 0.67 (P. occidentalis), 0.96 (G. biloba), 0.93 (C. retusa), and 0.88 (A. pseudo-sieboldianum) when they were derived from diameter at breath height (DBH). Using the DBH-volume equation, the five street tree species (P. occidentalis, G. biloba, Z. serrata, C. retusa, and A. pseudo-sieboldianum), which account for 70% of total street trees in the Daejeon, stored about 4290 tons of carbon. Among the five street tree species, P. occidentalis constituted more than 50% of total stored carbon and followed by G. biloba. Based on the carbon storage, five street tree species can sequestrate 216 tons of carbon annually which means that 793 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) removal from the air every year.