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Urban Ecosystems and Climate Change

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Book cover Carbon Sequestration in Urban Ecosystems

Abstract

More than 50% of the world population (∼3.5 billion) lives in urban areas, and the relative magnitude will increase to 60% by 2030. The highest rate of urbanization in the world is in Latin America, and in the emerging economies of China and India. Urban ecosystems, covering ∼3% of the terrestrial land area, strongly influence biogeochemical cycles of elements (C, N) and water, and alter regional and global climate through gaseous emissions. Yet, urban lands are an important C pool with a C density as high as 20–40 kg C m−2. Because of intensive management, the above ground net primary productivity can be 300–400 g C m−2 year−1. Principal components of the ecosystem C pool include urban forests, lawns and turfs and recreational grounds, and soil C pool. The net ecosystem C pool can be enhanced by reducing the hidden C costs associated with management. Urban agriculture is gaining importance and adds to multifunctionality of urban landscapes. Urban ecosystems have a large technical potential to sequester C in soils and biota through judicious management. While sources of gaseous emissions must be reduced, C sink capacity of urban lands can be enhanced through adoption of recommended management practices.

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Abbreviations

ACC:

abrupt climate change

ANPP:

above-ground net primary productivity

C:

carbon

GCC:

global carbon cycle

GHGs:

greenhouse gases

HCC:

hidden carbon costs

NEE:

net ecosystem exchange

NPP:

net primary productivity

SOC:

soil organic carbon

USDA:

United States Department of Agriculture

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Carbon Management and Sequestration Center, 2021 Coffey Rd, 210 Kottman Hall, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA

    Rattan Lal

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  1. Rattan Lal
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Correspondence to Rattan Lal .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. OARDC, Carbon Management &, Ohio State University, Coffey Road 2021, Columbus, 43210, Ohio, USA

    Rattan Lal

  2. The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, Scottslawn Road 14111, Marysville, 43041, Ohio, USA

    Bruce Augustin

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Lal, R. (2012). Urban Ecosystems and Climate Change. In: Lal, R., Augustin, B. (eds) Carbon Sequestration in Urban Ecosystems. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2366-5_1

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