Structure, Diversity, and Carbon Stocks of the Tree Community of Kumasi, Ghana

Urban forestry has the potential to address many urban environmental and sustainability challenges. Yet in Africa, urban forest characterization and its potential to contribute to human wellbeing are often neglected or restrained. This paper describes the structure, diversity, and composition of an urban forest and its potential to store carbon as a means of climate change mitigation and adaptation in Kumasi. The vegetation inventory included a survey of 470,100-m2 plots based on a stratified random sampling technique and six streets ranging from 50 m to 1 km. A total of 3757 trees, comprising 176 species and 46 families, were enumerated. Tree abundance and species richness were left skewed and unimodally distributed based on diameter at breast height (DBH). Trees in the diameter classes >60 cm together had the lowest species richness (17%) and abundance (9%), yet contributed more than 50% of the total carbon stored in trees within the city. Overall, about 1.2 million tonnes of carbon is captured in aboveground components of trees in Kumasi, with a mean of 228 t C ha−1. Tree density, DBH, height, basal area, aboveground carbon storage, and species richness were significantly different among green spaces (p < 0.05). The diversity was also significantly different among urban zones (p < 0.0005). The DBH distribution of trees followed a modified reverse J-shaped model. The urban forest structure and composition is quite unique. The practice of urban forestry has the potential to conserve biological diversity and combat climate change. The introduction of policies and actions to support the expansion of urban forest cover and diversity is widely encouraged.

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Tree Species Diversity and Socioeconomic Perspectives of the Urban (Food) Forest of Accra, Ghana

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su10103417 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. 3417 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Bertrand Nero ◽

Nana Kwapong ◽

Raymond Jatta ◽

Oluwole Fatunbi

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Tree Species ◽

Forest Cover ◽

Food System ◽

Food Policy ◽

Urban Forest ◽

Urban Forestry ◽

Tree Cover ◽

Land Use Types ◽

The City

Urban and peri-urban forestry has emerged as a complementary measure to contribute towards eliminating urban hunger and improved nutritional security. However, there is scanty knowledge about the composition, diversity, and socioeconomic contributions of urban food trees in African cities. This paper examines the diversity and composition of the urban forest and food trees of Accra and sheds light on perceptions of urbanites regarding food tree cultivation and availability in the city. Using a mixed methods approach, 105 respondents in six neighborhoods of Accra were interviewed while over 200 plots (100-m2 each) were surveyed across five land use types. Twenty-two out of the 70 woody species in Accra have edible parts (leaves, fruits, flowers, etc.). The food-tree abundance in the city is about half of the total number of trees enumerated. The species richness and abundance of the food trees and all trees in the city were significantly different among land use types (p < 0.0001) and neighborhood types (p < 0.0001). The diversity of food-bearing tree species was much higher in the poorer neighborhoods than in the wealthier neighborhoods. Respondents in wealthier neighborhoods indicated that tree and food-tree cover of the city was generally low and showed greater interest in cultivating food (fruit) trees and expanding urban forest cover than poorer neighborhoods. These findings demonstrate the need for urban food policy reforms that integrate urban-grown tree foods in the urban food system/culture.

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Analysis of arable crop farmers’ awareness to causes and effects of climate change in south western Nigeria

International Journal of Social Economics ◽

10.1108/ijse-09-2013-0201 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 42 (7) ◽

pp. 614-628 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Shakirat Bolatito Ibrahim ◽

Idris Akanbi Ayinde ◽

Aisha Olushola Arowolo

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Sampling Technique ◽

Household Size ◽

Farm Size ◽

Primary Data ◽

Survey Method ◽

Tobit Regression ◽

Content Type ◽

Mitigation And Adaptation ◽

Arable Crop

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to empirically analyze the determinants of arable crop farmers’ awareness to causes and effects of climate change in south western Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach – Using primary data, 150 arable crop farmers in Ogun State were selected through a multi stage sampling technique. Survey method was used to elicit information on farmers’ socioeconomic, production characteristics, and their level of awareness to causes and effects of climate change. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, environmental awareness index (EAI), and Tobit regression analysis. Findings – Most (81.08 percent) of the arable crop farmers were males with an average household size of eight persons, farming experience of 24 years and farm size of approximately 1 ha. The computed climate change EAI showed that only 47 percent of the respondents were aware of causes of climate change, while 68 percent were aware of its effects. Results further revealed that age, income from secondary occupation (p < 0.10), marital status, household size (p < 0.05), years of farming experience, frequency of extension contact, land size in hectare, and farm revenue (p < 0.01) were the determinants of respondents awareness to causes and effects of climate change. Practical implications – The study recommended among others that, awareness should be created among arable crop farmers on climate change causes and effects for appropriate mitigation actions to be taken for improved agricultural productivity. Originality/value – The study provided new empirical evidence on the awareness level of respondents to causes and effects of climate change on their production activities and livelihood in general. Implications for policy will be to provide a public education program that will target females, the poor, the illiterate, and the people in the economically active age group among others in order to create awareness and provide information and adequate knowledge on the causes and effects of climate change for proper mitigation and adaptation options.

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Climate Change and Its Consequences for Cultural and Language Endangerment

The Oxford Handbook of Endangered Languages ◽

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190610029.013.34 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 719-738

Author(s):

Christopher P. Dunn

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Native Species ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Linguistic Diversity ◽

Civil Conflict ◽

Language Endangerment ◽

Natural Systems ◽

Mitigation And Adaptation ◽

Language Survival ◽

And Migration

Climate change is arguably one of the most pressing issues facing humanity. The implications for natural ecological (terrestrial and marine) and agricultural systems are enormous. The diminishment and extinction of native species and the increase in number and impact of invasive species are well documented. As natural systems are altered, the local communities and indigenous groups that have co-evolved with, and depend on, native plants and animals are challenged to maintain their integrity and livelihoods. Thus, the erosion of biological diversity can lead directly to the erosion of cultural and, thusly, linguistic diversity. Here the ramifications of climate change with respect to cultural and language endangerment are examined, with particular emphasis on island systems, ecological calendars, civil conflict, and migration. Strong mitigation and adaptation strategies will be essential for cultural and language survival.

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Biodiversity and Climate Change: Linkages at International, National and Local Levels

Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal/Potchefstroomse Elektroniese Regsblad ◽

10.17159/1727-3781/2013/v16i4a2423 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. 472

Author(s):

Alexander Paterson

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Climate Change Mitigation ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Carbon Stocks ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

Mitigation And Adaptation ◽

Combating Desertification ◽

Degraded Ecosystems ◽

Local Levels ◽

Change Mitigation

At the tenth Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Conference of the Parties (COP) held in Nagoya 2010, the parties agreed that they would by 2020 enhance 'ecosystem resilience and the contribution of biodiversity to carbon stocks …, through conservation and restoration, including restoration of at least 15 per cent of degraded ecosystems, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation and to combating desertification' (Aichi Target 15, Decision X/2 (Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020)).

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Total carbon stock in Langsa Urban Forest, Langsa City, Aceh Province

IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science ◽

10.1088/1755-1315/951/1/012092 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 951 (1) ◽

pp. 012092

Author(s):

T Arlita ◽

L A Yanti ◽

A Farida ◽

A H Umam ◽

A Anhar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Urban Areas ◽

Open Space ◽

Life Support ◽

Urban Forest ◽

Human Life ◽

Sampling Technique ◽

Urban Ecosystems ◽

Total Carbon ◽

Average Value ◽

A Value

Abstract The existence of forests as a life support system has provided benefits for human life, especially in the current era where environmental issues regarding climate change and global warming are starting to emerge. The existence of forest areas is called green open space or urban forest. The existence of urban forests is very important for the balance of the microclimate in urban areas. Langsa City Forest is an area with an area of about 10 hectares which functions for the preservation, harmony and balance of urban ecosystems which include environmental, social and cultural elements. Determination of the sample using purposive sampling method with random start. Sampling technique used 12 plots with an area of about 10 hectares, tree biomass calculation using allometric equations. Data obtained from the Langsa City Forest in the calculation of carbon in 12 plots, the plot that has the highest amount of carbon is 6 with a value of 225.74 tC/Ha and the plot that has the amount of carbon with the lowest value is 1 with a value of 16.54 tC/Ha. The average carbon value in Langsa City Forest is 119.07 tC/Ha. There are 5 plots that have the highest average value, namely plots 2, 6, 8, 9, and 10 also 7 plots have below the average value, namely plots 1, 3, 5, 7, 11 and 12. Total carbon plots in the forest Langsa City is 1428.84 tC/Ha with an average carbon in the area of 119.07 tC/Ha and a standard deviation of 65.35 tC/Ha. The information about carbon uptake on vegetation shows that the existence of urban forest is very important for the balance of the microclimate in urban areas of Langsa City.

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Rhododendron species richness patterns and impacts of global warming on its distribution in Central Himalayas, Nepal

Botanica Orientalis Journal of Plant Science ◽

10.3126/botor.v9i0.21009 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

pp. 12-19 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Khem Raj Bhattarai ◽

Thakur Prasad Upadhyay

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Global Warming ◽

Species Richness ◽

Size Distribution ◽

Temperature Rise ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Range Size ◽

Distribution Range ◽

Vegetation Zones ◽

Richness Patterns

Global warming and climate change have caused devastating impacts on biological diversity especially in northern latitude and altitude. Evaluation of species richness patterns and range size distribution is crucial for the conservation and management of biological diversity. As Rhododendron species generally grow in the higher latitude and altitude their study on range size distribution may help to predict the future fate of species against presumed global warming in the Himalayas. This study relates the distribution range of Rhododendron species and the potential impacts of global warming and climate change on it. The distribution range varied from 100 to 2600 m along the Himalayan elevation gradient. Generally, species found at the higher elevation have longer range compared to the species found at lower elevation. Among the Rhododendron species found in Nepal Himalayas, R. epapillatum, R. trichocladum and R. virgatum have only 100 m distribution range, which are therefore most vulnerable to the shift in vegetation zones as a result of future projection of temperature rise. Other species having 300 m range of distribution are also vulnerable to different levels of temperature rise as predicted by various sources. These findings can generate hypothesis that species with shorter distribution rage are more vulnerable to climate change which can be tested quantitatively. This in turn will establish a relationship between distribution ranges of species and shift in vegetation zones, and rising temperatures in the Himalayan region due to global warming.Botanica Orientalis – Journal of Plant Science (2015) 9: 12–19

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Growing the Urban Forest. From our Practitioners’ perspective to Field Initiatives

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-11057 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Maria Beatrice Andreucci ◽

Naomi Zürcher

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Ecosystem Services ◽

Green Infrastructure ◽

Urban Forest ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Urban Forestry ◽

Urban Ecosystem ◽

Body Of Knowledge ◽

The Cost ◽

Urban Forest Management

<p>The Urban Forestry body of knowledge, incorporating the protection, preservation and care of trees, and their landscapes that enhance our urban areas, has been informed by research in soil science, horticulture, plant form/function/pathology, entomology, climate science, health care and the social sciences.</p><p>Such contributing research was represented in the COST Action FP1204 &#8220;GreenInUrbs&#8221; book - "The Urban Forest: Cultivating Green Infrastructure for People and the Environment" (Springer 2017).</p><p>But that Urban Forestry body of knowledge also reflects an evolved aggregation from the disciplines of forestry, landscape architecture and arboriculture.</p><p>Chapter 24 &#8220;Growing the Urban Forest: Our Practitioners&#8217; Perspective&#8221; represented the professional disciplines of Maria Beatrice Andreucci, Landscape Architect, and Naomi Z&#252;rcher, Urban Forester/Consulting Arborist - two practitioners&#8217; voices, applying their experiences in &#8220;growing&#8221; our Urban Forest to the entirety of the book&#8217;s submissions:</p><ul><li>scrutinizing the scientific findings&#8217; applicability in project design and implementation as well as day-to-day management;</li> <li>analyzing the functionality of Urban Forest resource management: planning, design, maintenance;</li> <li>evaluating/presenting strategies for participatory stewardship from Third Sector and the informed community;</li> <li>describing/recommending viable, supportive good governance policies that can actually &#8220;grow&#8221; a healthy Urban Forest and deliver essential Ecosystem Services benefits.</li> </ul><p>All well and good, but chapters in books offering scientific findings, data and its outcomes are only as effective and influential as the actions they initiate. What is essential is actionable plans that make the findings and the data live.</p><p>Those critical actions and initiatives fall to the knowledgeable Practitioner. This presentation will offer outcomes of our Practitioners&#8217; observations, described in the COST GreenInUrbs chapter, translating that experience into actionable projects invested in ecological design and sustainable management of the urban ecosystem:</p><p>1) Mapping multiple benefits of Urban Green Infrastructure (UGI), promoting evidence-based landscape and urban design &#8211;Maria Beatrice Andreucci, International Federation of Landscape Architect (IFLA) Advisory Circle member, is providing IFLA practitioners and students, representing professional associations from five continents, with research-based evidence of ecological, environmental, social and economic benefits provided by UGI projects to:</p><ul><li>support informed decision-making and climate-adaptive design strategies at different scales (i.e. architecture, district, city, region, etc.) with metrics and other scientific findings;</li> <li>disseminate knowledge about useful valuation tools and methodologies tested on a large repository of international UGI case studies, with particular emphasis on the assessment of co-benefits and trade-offs, implied in sustainable transformations of the urban ecosystem.</li> </ul><p>2) Creating an i-Tree Eco-based Urban Forest Management Toolbox: Turning i-Tree outputs into Climate-Adaptive outcomes, offering management strategies for growing the Swiss Urban Forest &#8211;Naomi Z&#252;rcher, an affiliate i-Tree team member, is spearheading this Federally-funded climate change adaptation project in 8 Swiss cities. i-Tree Eco quantified assessment outputs of existing urban tree structure and function are utilized to:</p><ul><li>provide a connective understanding between the quantified values and managing for the protection, preservation and retention of mature urban trees;</li> <li>realize an Urban Forest Management Toolbox, developed by all project participants, comprised of creative planning, design and management strategies from an Ecosystem Services perspective, enabling Climate Change adaptations today for Swiss Cities of tomorrow.</li> </ul><div> <div> <div>&#160;</div> </div> <div> <div>&#160;</div> </div> <div> <div>&#160;</div> </div> <div> <div>&#160;</div> </div> <div> <div>&#160;</div> </div> </div>

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Ecological connectivity of seagrasses with mangroves increases the carbon storage of tropical seagrass meadows of an island ecosystem

10.21203/rs.3.rs-839297/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Amrit Kumar Mishra ◽

Deepak Apte ◽

Syed Hilal Farooq

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Carbon Storage ◽

Climate Change Mitigation ◽

Total Carbon ◽

Total Biomass ◽

Thalassia Hemprichii ◽

Sediment Grain Size ◽

Seagrass Meadows ◽

Mitigation And Adaptation ◽

Change Mitigation

Abstract Ecologically connected ecosystems are considered more resilient to climate change mitigation by storing increased amounts of carbon than individual ecosystems. This study quantified the carbon storage capacity of seagrass (Thalassia hemprichii) meadows that are adjacent to mangroves (MG; Rhizophora apiculate) and without mangroves (WMG) at three locations in tropical Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI) of India. The sediment organic matter (OM) carbon (Corg) content was 2-fold higher at the MG sites than WMG sites of all three locations within the top 10 cm. The Corg in the total biomass was higher at MG sites than the biomass at WMG sites. The sediment grain size positively influenced the sediment OM and Corg content. The canopy height of T. hemprichii showed a better relationship with sediment OM and Corg at MG sites. In contrast, the shoot density of T. hemprichii showed a better relationship with sediment OM and Corg at WMG sites. The total carbon in 144 ha of T. hemprichii meadows of all three MG sites was 11031± 5223 Mg C, whereas the carbon in 148 ha of WMG sites was 4921±3725 Mg C. These T. hemprichii meadows of ANI store around 40487±19171 ton of CO2 in the MG sites and 18036 ±13672 ton of CO2 at WMG sites. The social cost of these carbon stored in these T. hemprichii meadows is around US$ 34.82 and 1.5 million at the MG and WMG sites, respectively. This study points out the efficiency of seagrass ecosystems of ANI as carbon sinks and the potential of these connected seascapes in increasing the efficiency of seagrass carbon storage. Therefore, this connectivity approach should be further explored to include these connected ecosystems of India as a nature-based solution for climate change mitigation and adaptation plans.

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Integrating issues of biodiversity and climate change to achieve sustainable forest management: A case of Mbeliling landscape, Flores

IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science ◽

10.1088/1755-1315/914/1/012012 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 914 (1) ◽

pp. 012012

Author(s):

W C Adinugroho ◽

H Krisnawati ◽

R Imanuddin ◽

A Ayat ◽

L A Wirastami ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Land Cover ◽

Sustainable Forest Management ◽

Carbon Stocks ◽

Total Carbon ◽

Mitigation And Adaptation ◽

Endemic Birds ◽

Research Questions ◽

Mitigate Climate Change ◽

Change Mitigation

Abstract Biodiversity and climate change are interrelated, so a coordinated approach is needed to cover it by focusing on how landscapes provide many benefits. The Mbeliling landscape, Flores is the smallest management unit in an ecological perspective, essential for the conservation and preservation of biodiversity, especially for the endemic birds of Flores. Efforts to preserve biodiversity are also expected to contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation. The study aims to produce data and information on biodiversity and potential carbon stocks at the land cover of the Mbeliling landscape. Desk study and field survey were used to answer research questions. The Mbeliling landscape has eight types of tree vegetation land cover that can serve as carbon sinks and the habitat for four species of Flores endemic birds. Approximately 139 species of vegetation with the total carbon stocks could potentially absorb the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of ± 103.63 Mt CO2-e. The type of land cover significantly influences carbon stocks. The land cover with forest category in the Mbeliling landscape has the most extensive carbon stock among other land cover types. This result can be used as a reference in managing the Mbeliling landscape in integrating efforts to conserve biodiversity and mitigate climate change through the REDD+ scheme.

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Governance Challenges for Implementing Nature-Based Solutions in the Asian Region

Politics and Governance ◽

10.17645/pag.v9i4.4420 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 102-113

Author(s):

Kanako Morita ◽

Ken'ichi Matsumoto

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Water Security ◽

Well Being ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

Security Issues ◽

Mitigation And Adaptation ◽

Societal Challenges ◽

Governance Challenges ◽

Stages Of Economic Development

Nature-based solutions (NbS) are recognized under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity. This relatively new concept has become a key element in strategies for green recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. NbS consist of a range of measures that address various societal challenges, including climate change, natural disasters, and water security, by combining human well-being and biodiversity benefits. Although the importance of NbS has been widely recognized, existing studies on aspects of their governance are limited and mainly focus on NbS in European countries. There is little relevant research in other regions, including Asia. This study aimed to explore challenges for NbS governance by analyzing the development and implementation of NbS in Asia. We focused on NbS in the fields of climate change mitigation and adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and infrastructure. In these three fields, NbS are linked to climate security issues and have been widely implemented in Asian countries. This analysis identified the challenges for NbS governance for countries at different stages of economic development, and for developing measures for NbS with different institutions and actors. It recognizes the importance of a framework that matches the need for NbS with relevant institutions and actors at various scales and in various sectors. Guidelines are required to integrate NbS into strategies and policies at national and local levels and also into international cooperation.

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