Evaluating the Above-Ground Carbon Storage of Urban Trees on University of British Columbia Vancouver Campus

In response to growing concerns about the impacts of climate change and the need for sustainable urban development, urban forests have emerged as a crucial tool for mitigating climate change impacts and enhancing the quality of life in cities. Previous studies have established that urban forests provide a wide range of ecosystem services, including air purification, temperature regulation, and carbon sequestration. However, precise estimation of urban tree carbon storage remains a key challenge for effective urban forest management and planning. In this work, we expand on this body of work by investigating the carbon storage of trees on the UBC Vancouver Campus using 2018 Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data sourced from the City of Vancouver. The aim was to determine the total carbon storage and the average carbon density of the campus. Tree height and structure were estimated using an existing model, which facilitated the calculation of individual tree biomass and carbon storage based on the LiDAR data. The results revealed that the UBC Vancouver Campus has a total carbon storage of 24.63 Gg and an average carbon density of 6.13 kg m-2. These findings emphasize the significant role urban forests play in climate change mitigation and urban life improvement. Employing LiDAR data in conjunction with the existing model proved to be an efficient and effective method for estimating urban tree carbon storage. The results can inform urban planning and policy decisions, fostering the integration of urban forests into sustainable campus development.