Urban Green Spaces as Carbon Reservoirs: Floristic Diversity and Biomass Patterns in Yamoussoukro (Center-Côte d’Ivoire)
N’GOURAN Kobenan Pierre
*
Department of Agroforestry, Faculty of Agroforestry, Jean Lorougnon Guédé University, Bp 150 Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire and Interdisciplinary Research Group on Landscape Ecology and Environment (GRIEPE), Jean Lorougnon Guédé University, Bp 150 Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire.
ASSALE Adjo Annie Yvette
Interdisciplinary Research Group on Landscape Ecology and Environment (GRIEPE), Jean Lorougnon Guédé University, Bp 150 Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire and Department of Environment, Faculty of Environment, Jean Lorougnon Guédé University, Bp 150 Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire.
KOUMAN Kouame Jean-Marc
Interdisciplinary Research Group on Landscape Ecology and Environment (GRIEPE), Jean Lorougnon Guédé University, Bp 150 Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire and Department of Environment, Faculty of Environment, Jean Lorougnon Guédé University, Bp 150 Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire.
KONANDI Kouassi Ghislain Junior
Department of Agroforestry, Faculty of Agroforestry, Jean Lorougnon Guédé University, Bp 150 Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire.
BAMBA Issouf
Interdisciplinary Research Group on Landscape Ecology and Environment (GRIEPE), Jean Lorougnon Guédé University, Bp 150 Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire and Department of Environment, Faculty of Environment, Jean Lorougnon Guédé University, Bp 150 Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire.
BARIMA Yao Sadaiou Sabas
Interdisciplinary Research Group on Landscape Ecology and Environment (GRIEPE), Jean Lorougnon Guédé University, Bp 150 Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire and Department of Environment, Faculty of Environment, Jean Lorougnon Guédé University, Bp 150 Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This study assessed the floristic diversity and carbon storage capacity of four major urban green spaces in Yamoussoukro using 26 plots of 400 m² and allometric equations for biomass estimation. A total of 24 woody species belonging to 22 genera and 13 families were recorded, with introduced species representing 77% of individuals. Carbon stocks ranged from 35.1 to 130 t/ha, with the highest values associated with sites containing larger basal areas and mature trees. The findings demonstrate that vegetation structure and species composition-rather than green-space size-are the primary determinants of carbon sequestration in the city. These results underscore the importance of informed species selection and structural management to optimize the climate-regulating functions of urban green spaces.
Keywords: Carbon, urban green spaces, floristic diversity, biomass, allometric equations, Yamoussoukro