ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTS OF URBAN VEGETATION STRUCTURE ON CARBON STORAGE AND SEQUESTRATION: THE CASE OF ISTANBUL-KADIKÖY

This study was conducted to develop a quantitative framework for calculating carbon sequestration and storage at the individual tree level and to provide a structure-based assessment of the contributions of urban trees to carbon dynamics. The study was carried out in six phases. After determining a suitable study area, tree measurements were taken at the individual tree level, and field data was used to create an i-Tree and R-compatible database. Carbon storage and annual carbon sequestration were calculated at the individual tree level, and the relationships between the variables were statistically analyzed. The study findings showed that complex interactions between species-specific structural attributes, growth dynamics, and dominance patterns directly influence carbon sequestration and storage capacities. These findings show that urban C mitigation strategies must move beyond simple tree counting or single-trait approaches and instead integrate species diversity, structural heterogeneity, and growth dynamics to enhance both the effectiveness and resilience of urban forest C services.