Characteristics of the Assimilation Potential of Tree Vegetation in Carbon Dioxide Absorption by PAs in Moscow

Abstract

The paper presents a comparative assessment of the contribution of forest tree vegetation of the natural sanctuary Serebryany Bor and the Natural-Historical Park Bitsevsky Forest to carbon dioxide absorption. It is found that the amount of carbon dioxide absorption depends on both the composition of tree species and the area occupied by these species. The research revealed that the assimilation potential of hardwood plantations exceeds the assimilation potential of softwood plantations. The data obtained on the assimilation potential of the tree vegetation of Serebryany Bor and Bitsevsky Forest show that forest plantations of these specially protected natural areas absorb more than 8% of pollutants emitted per year by the road transport in Moscow. The area occupied by these plantations makes up no more than 1% of the area of the entire city of Moscow, and this confirms the value of specially protected natural areas and their importance in a large city.