Contribution of urban green areas at the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua, León (UNAN-León) to atmospheric carbon sequestration

Abstract

Urban vegetation plays a key role in mitigating climate change by capturing and storing carbon dioxide, while also providing multiple ecosystem services. In this study, we quantified the carbon stored in trees across three campuses of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua, León (UNAN-León), located within a tropical dry forest ecosystem. Species were identified in each campus, and morphometric data (diameter at breast height and total height) were recorded for all trees. Basal area, volume, aboveground biomass, stored carbon, and equivalent captured CO₂ were estimated using standardized equations. A total of 72 species were identified among 3,291 recorded individuals. The results indicate a total storage of 837.50 Mg of carbon, equivalent to 3,113.63 Mg of CO₂. The Carlos Fonseca Amador campus exhibited the highest carbon capture capacity, with 644.70 Mg of CO₂, equivalent to the annual emissions of 661 vehicles; this greater capture capacity is likely associated with its higher tree density and forest maturity. Guapinol (Hymenaea courbaril) and eucalipto Eucalyptus camaldulensis stood out for their substantial contributions to biomass and carbon storage. The study provides evidence of the functional role of green areas across the three UNAN-León campuses in capturing atmospheric CO₂, promoting sustainable, resilient, and healthy urban environments, and reinforcing the active role of universities in climate change mitigation