Investigation of the effect of green areas on urban air quality in a park in Erzurum with I-Tree Canopy

Introduction: Urbanization, accelerated by the Industrial Revolution, has led to dense construction and a reduction in green areas. It is well-established that diminishing green spaces in cities contribute to declining air quality levels. Poor air quality poses one of the most significant direct threats to human health in urban environments. Increasing the presence of trees key components of ecosystems known for their role in mitigating air pollution can address this issue by reducing air pollution through particulate matter absorption and filtration, mitigating the urban heat island effect, regulating ozone levels, storing carbon, and improving airflow and distribution. Materials and methods: This study calculated the economic benefits of green spaces by assessing the land cover distribution and carbon sequestration capacity of tree canopy cover in the 100th-Year National Garden, located in Erzurum, Turkey, using the i-Tree Canopy application. The v7.1 version of the i-Tree Canopy software was employed for this purpose. Results: Results revealed that 0.13 ha of the area consisted of soil or bare ground, while 1.11 ha were covered by trees and shrubs. The study estimated that 398.23 kg of particulate matter were removed from the area, with a crown cover of 34.57%. The economic benefit derived from the trees’ contributions was valued at 185 U.S dollars. Conclusion: Consequently, the i-Tree Canopy application, a freely available tool, is considered a valuable resource for broader applications, offering benefits for air quality improvement strategies in urban areas.