Impact of Change in Tree Canopy Cover on Ecosystem Services in Desert Cities: A Case in Phoenix, USA

Year 2024, Volume: 9 Issue: 2, 1031 - 1043, 26.12.2024

Rifat Olgun , Nihat Karakuş

https://doi.org/10.30785/mbud.1567421

Abstract

The study aims to answer the question of how the change in tree canopy cover in desert cities due to the urbanization process affects ecosystem services. The city of Phoenix, which is located in the northern part of the Sonoran Desert in the southwestern United States, was determined as the study area. The i-tree canopy software was used to assess the 20-year (2004-2023) change in the tree canopy cover of the Phoenix and to calculate the ecosystem services and benefits obtained from trees. The findings show that the tree canopy cover in the study area decreased by 58.26 km2 (4.34%) in 20 years. Therefore, the amount of carbon sequestration, the rate of removing air pollution, and the hydrological benefit values of trees decreased. The results obtained from the study will contribute to decision-makers and planners in urban planning processes in regions with similar ecological characteristics.

Keywords

Urbanization, ecosystem services, desert city, i-tree canopy

Thanks

The article complies with national and international research and publication ethics. Ethics Committee approval was not required for the study.

Ağaç Kanopi Örtüsündeki Değişimin Çöl Kentlerindeki Ekosistem Hizmetleri Üzerine Etkisi: Phoenix, ABD Şehri Örneği

Abstract

Çalışma, kentleşme sürecine bağlı olarak çöl kentlerindeki ağaç örtüsünde meydana gelen değişimin ekosistem hizmetlerini nasıl etkilediği sorusuna cevap bulmayı amaçlamaktadır. Bu kapsamda Amerika Birleşik Devletleri'nin güneybatısındaki Sonoran Çölü'nün kuzey kesiminde yer alan Phoenix şehri çalışma alanı olarak belirlenmiştir. Phoenix'in ağaç örtüsündeki 20 yıllık (2004-2023) değişimi değerlendirmek ve ağaçların ekosistem hizmetlerini ve ekonomik fayda değerlerini hesaplamak için i-tree canopy yazılımı kullanılmıştır. Çalışmanın bulguları çalışma alanındaki ağaç örtüsünün 20 yılda 58,26 km2 (%4,34) azaldığını göstermektedir. Buna bağlı olarak ağaçların karbon tutma miktarı, hava kirliliğini giderme oranı ve hidrolojik fayda değerleri azalmıştır. Çalışmadan elde edilen sonuçlar, benzer ekolojik özelliklere sahip bölgelerdeki kentsel planlama süreçlerinde karar vericilere ve planlamacılara katkı sağlayacaktır.

Keywords

Kentleşme, ekosistem hizmetleri, çöl kenti, i-tree canopy.

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