Planting Structures and Carbon Reduction Effects of Urban Greenspaces in Reclaimed Coastal Areas

Background and objective: In order to enhance the contribution of urban greenspaces to carbon uptake, it is essential toassess the carbon reduction effects of these areas. Accordingly, this study examined the planting structures and carbonreduction effects of urban green spaces in reclaimed coastal areas (RCAs), which are characterized by unique growthconditions, such as high salinity, that distinguish them from inland areas. Methods: Field surveys were conducted across urban greenspaces in RCAs along the west and south coasts of Korea todocument their planting structures and soil characteristics. Based on the obtained data, a quantitative analysis of thecarbon reduction effect of trees and soil within these greenspaces was conducted. Results: It was found that the average tree cover in the surveyed greenspaces was 37.2%, while soil salinity and organicmatter content were measured at 0.03% and 4.2%, respectively. The carbon storage per unit area of the greenspace,attributable to both trees and soil, reached 59.2 t/ha, with an estimated total annual carbon uptake of approximately 5.7kt/year. This uptake is equivalent to offsetting the carbon emissions of about 153,000 people based on the energyconsumption of residential buildings. Drawing on these results, this study proposed strategies to further enhance carbonreduction in reclaimed coastal greenspaces. The recommended strategies include optimizing soil conditions for plantgrowth, implementing multi-layered and clustered planting with medium and large trees, and selecting tree species thattolerate high salinity. Conclusion: Overall, this study makes a valuable contribution toward establishing a carbon uptake indicator for trees andsoil in reclaimed coastal greenspaces, where relevant data are currently scarce. Future research should aim to includediverse types of greenspaces and larger sample sizes to more accurately capture annual soil carbon fluxes.