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

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.