Identifying The Role of Green Spaces in Air Quality Regulation: The Case of Trakya University Balkan Campus

This research aims to investigate the ecological benefits and economic value of the vegetation cover on the Balkan Campus of Trakya University. The distribution of land cover classes, carbon storage capacity and air pollution mitigation effects of the campus area were assessed using the i-Tree Canopy tool. The results showed that the vegetation canopy, covering 23.93% of the area, removes 2375 kg of gases and particulate matter from the air. The economic benefit of improving the air quality of the campus area was estimated to be $1144. In addition, the amount of carbon sequestered by the canopy was 107.61 tons, while the amount of carbon stored was 2702.45 tons. The results indicate that the canopy cover of trees/shrubs on campus contributes significantly to the ecosystem by improving air quality. This study also highlights that increasing green space and promoting planting efforts can provide significant environmental and economic benefits in creating sustainable and climate-friendly campuses.