Tree cover in green areas and its contribution to urban sustainability: the case of the Campus Montecillo of the Colegio de Postgraduados
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59741/agri.v5i2.61Keywords:
Land cover, Urban Forestry, Ecosystem servicesAbstract
The assessment of land cover, particularly tree cover, is essential to understand the environmental functioning of urban and suburban spaces and its relevance for urban sustainability. This study analyzes tree cover in the central area of the Campus Montecillo of the Colegio de Postgraduados using the i-Tree Canopy tool, based on the classification of 1,125 sampling points. The results indicate a landscape predominantly covered by vegetation, with 40.6% grass cover and 30.5% tree cover, and a relatively low proportion of built and impervious surfaces. Campus trees annually sequester 10.68 t of carbon and store more than 218 t in biomass. However, the woodland located in the northern sector of the campus concentrates a significant proportion of the canopy (25%). This spatial configuration favors carbon sequestration and storage as ecosystem services, as well as microclimate regulation and air quality improvement. Nevertheless, the spatial distribution of trees is a key factor in the provision of ecosystem services to the population. Beyond the total percentage of tree cover, this study highlights the importance of its spatial and functional distribution and suggests that management strategies oriented toward the strategic redistribution of trees could enhance the environmental and comfort benefits of the campus.
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