Evaluating the carbon sequestration potential of tree species within the campus of ahmedabad university

Abstract

In today’s world, the ability of trees to absorb and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is relevant. In this regard, trees are natural carbon sinks, absorbing carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and sequestering carbon in their tissue, thereby helping to offset CO2 emissions from human activities in urbanized areas. Research regarding this topic has been conducted by universities worldwide but this type of study has not been done within the setting of Ahmedabad University in the Navrangpura ward of western Ahmedabad. The city has experienced rapid urbanization leading to various environmental challenges, so sustainable acts must prevail. Trees and biodiversity conservation remain essential in sustainability, especially considering the impacts that urbanization is associated with. The amount of carbon sequestered and the carbon content of trees around the university campus have been calculated by employing well-developed allometric equations for the above-ground and below-ground biomass of the trees for different species. Our results show a wide range of CO2 absorbed and reduced by these 57 species of trees found across the campus. The total carbon sequestered by all the 1096 individual trees comes to 1036.7 tons of CO2. Some species store as low as 0.002 tons of CO2, while others store up to 622.81 tons of CO2 overall. The Indica tree, which has the highest carbon sequestration rate, stores up to 3.28 tons of CO2 per tree. A distinction between native and exotic species also shows that indigenous species like Ailanthus excelsa, Cordiya Myxa, Albizia Odoratissima, and Limonia Acidissima store more carbon per tree compared to the exotics. These results show the need for investing in sustainability programs and carbon sequestration projects within the university, which will provide a more conducive environment for all thereby allowing a broader cultural shift to a more sustainable and green future. Additionally, it will also assist the university in gaining sustainable financial opportunities from carbon credit generation and other such funding initiatives and help boost the university’s economic sustainability and promote environmental stewardship.