Maximerande av ekosystemtjänster i urbana kulturmiljöer: En fallstudie om trädval i Pommerska tomten i Mariestad

Abstract

The purpose of this work has been to explore what ecosystem services a small green area in an urban environment can offer and whether specific trees can be used to maximize regulatory ecosystem services in a cultural-historical environment. Additionally, it investigates whether there is any difference in ecosystem services depending on whether these trees, or trees that better fit into the cultural-historical environment, are used. Through simulations and comparisons with existing trees in Pommerska tomten, Mariestad, Sweden, a pocket park within a national interest area, different hypothetical tree planting options are analyzed and evaluated. To measure ecosystem services, the website My-Tree, developed by the US equivalent of the Department of Agriculture, was used. By inputting data about the tree, such as location, species, vitality, stem diameter, and solar exposure, My-Tree calculates some of the ecosystem services the tree provides. This includes carbon dioxide uptake, rainwater interception, and uptake of air pollutants. The results showed that the number of trees had a significant impact on the results. Vitality and size of the tree were also of great importance for ecosystem services. The cultural-historical simulation was found to have higher ecosystem values than the one focusing on ecosystem services. The greatest difference was observed in carbon dioxide uptake, where the cultural-historical simulation absorbed over two-thirds more. In other categories, the difference was so small that it fell within the margin of error. According to the simulations, investing in cultural-historical trees does not reduce ecosystem services in Pommerska tomten. Finally, the results showed that different trees provide different types of ecosystem services and that when planting trees, one needs to consider what the specific location requires.