Methodology of sampling for carbon inventory in population of street trees

• Grant number: 12/11828-7
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: April 01, 2013
• End date: September 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Hilton Thadeu Zarate do Couto
• Grantee: Hilton Thadeu Zarate do Couto
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The importance of Urban Forests to the sustainability of cities has been widely discussed and recognized. It is undeniable that environmental services provided by these ecosystems, such as carbon sequestration and storage, are fundamental to cities and to the well-being of human populations. Although the street trees are a minor component of urban forest, they are significant to the environment. In this context, this project aims to compare sampling procedures for estimating the carbon stored by street trees using as study area the city of Piracicaba - SP (Brazil). We will evaluate: i. Land use survey processes (Dot grid, Supervised classification, NDVI) to stratification of area by percentage of street tree coverage; ii. Sampling processes for street tree population inventory (Stratified, Systematic and Conglomerate); iii. Procedures for obtaining carbon by carbon analysis, biomass measurement and near-infrared reflectance spectrometry to establish empirical equations. The quantification of carbon stored by street trees can be a valuable tool for establishing public policy and climate change mitigation. (AU)