Quantifying the role of Platanus hispanica in carbon storage in an urban forest in central west Argentina

ABSTRACT Human activities in cities, especially those burning fossil fuels, have increased atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations. Urban trees play a crucial role in the biogeochemical cycle of carbon storage in cities. Many tons of carbon are annually stored by the structural components of trees in urban ecosystems. In the urban forest of San Juan city, Platanus hispanica is one of the most abundant species. The goal of this study is to estimate the amount of carbon stored by this species in its different structural components: trunks, primary, secondary and minor branches. We analysed samples collected from two areas in the city: the urban and suburban areas. We estimated dry matter for each structural component. Significant differences were found between the studied areas. Results indicated that P. hispanica accumulated 5,630 tons of carbon in the urban area and 4,700 tons of carbon in the suburban area. Around 20,662 tons and 17,249 tons of CO2, in the urban and suburban areas respectively, are annually sequestered by this species from the atmosphere of San Juan city.