Carbon Sequestration in Urban Ecosystems

Urbanization drastically alters the ecosystems structure and functions, disrupts cycling of C and other elements along with water. It alters the energy balance and influences climate at local, regional and global scales. In 2008, urban population exceeded the rural population. In 2050, 70% of the world population will live in urban centers. The number of megacities (10 million inhabitants) increased from three in 1975 to 19 in 2007, and is projected to be 27 in 2025. Rapid urbanization is altering the ecosystem C budget. Yet, urban ecosystems have a large C sink capacity in soils and biota. Judicious planning and effective management can enhance C pool in urban ecosystems, and off-set some of the anthropogenic emissions. Principal components with regards to C sequestration include home lawns and turfs, urban forests, green roofs, park and recreational/sports facilities and urban agriculture. Foreword PART I. Urban Ecosystems and Climate Change 1. Urban Ecosystems and Climate Change; R. Lal 2. Adapting Urban Land Use in a Time of Climate Change; Optimising Future Land-use Patterns to Decrease Flood Risks; E.van Leeuwen, E. Koomen 3. Comparison of Methods for Estimating Carbon Dioxide Storage by Sacramento’s Urban Forest; E. Aguaron, E.G. McPherson 4. Terrestrial Carbon Management In Urban Ecosystems And Water Quality; K. Lorenz, R. Lal PART II. Urban Forests 5. Carbon Stocks in Urban Forest Remnants: Atlanta and Baltimore as Case Studies; I. D. Yesilonis, R. V. Pouyat 6. Urban Trees for Carbon Sequestration; B.C. Scharenbroch 7. Carbon Storage in Some Urban Forest Soils of Columbus, Ohio, USA; K. Lorenz, R. Lal PART III.  Turfgrass and Home Lawns 8. Carbon Dynamics and Sequestration in Urban Turfgrass Ecosystems; Y. Qian, R. Follett 9. Carbon sequestration potential in urban soils; S. Brown, E. Miltner, and C. Cogger 10. Carbon Sequestration in Turfed Landscapes:  A Review; E.A. Guertal 11. Microbial Control of Soil Carbon Accumulation in Turfgrass Systems; W. Shi, D. Bowman, T. Rufty 12. Using Soil Health Indicators to Follow Carbon Dynamics in Disturbed Urban Environments- A Case Study of Gas Pipeline Right-of-Way Construction; R. R. Schindelbeck, H. M. van Es 13. Carbon Sequestration in Golf Course Turfgrass Systems and Recommendations for the Enhancement of Climate Change Mitigation Potential; A. L. Selhorst, R. Lal 14. Modeling Carbon Sequestration in the U.S. Residential Landscape; G. Zirkle, R. Lal, B. Augustin, R. Follett PART IV. Current Trends in Urban Ecosystems 15. Improving Soil Quality for Urban Agriculture in the North Central U.S.;J. Beniston, R. Lal 16. Carbon Cycle of Urban Ecosystems; G. Churkina 17. Legacy Effects of Highway Construction Disturbance and Vegetation Management on Carbon Dynamics in Forested Urban Verges; T. L. L. Trammell, M. M. Carreiro PART V. Sustainable Management of Urban Ecosystems 18. Global Urbanization and Demand for Natural Resources; C. Yeh, S. Huang 19. Toward Greening of Urban Landscapes; R. Lal