University Campuses as Vital Urban Green Infrastructure: Quantifying Ecosystem Services Based on Field Inventory in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia

This study provides the first comprehensive, field-inventory-based assessment of urban ecosystem services within a Russian university campus, focusing on the woody vegetation of the Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod. Utilizing a detailed field tree inventory combined with the i-Tree framework (including i-Tree Eco, i-Tree Canopy, UFORE, and i-Tree Hydro models), we quantified the campus’s capacity for carbon storage and sequestration, air pollutant removal, and stormwater runoff mitigation. The campus green infrastructure, comprising 1887 trees across 32 species with a density of 145.5 stems per hectare, demonstrated significant ecological value. Results show a carbon storage density of 26.61 t C ha−1 and an annual gross carbon sequestration of 11.43 tons. Furthermore, the campus trees removed 1213.7 kg of air pollutants annually (a deposition rate of 9.35 g m−2), with ozone, particulate matter, and sulfur dioxide showing the highest deposition. The campus also retained 956.1 m3 of stormwater annually. These findings, particularly the high carbon sequestration rates, are attributed to the dominance of relatively young, fast-growing tree species. This research establishes a critical baseline for understanding urban ecosystem services in a previously under-researched geographical context. The detailed, empirical data offers crucial insights for urban planners and policymakers in Nizhny Novgorod and beyond, advocating for the strategic integration of ecosystem services assessments into campus planning and broader urban green infrastructure development across Russian cities. The study underscores the significant role of university campuses as vital components of urban green infrastructure, contributing substantially to environmental sustainability and human well-being.