Carbon Sequestration Potential of Urban Green Spaces in Guinea Savanna Area of Nigeria

Authors

• Alexander Terdoo Akighirga, Department of Forestry and Environmental Technology, Hussaini Adamu Federal Polytechnic P.M.B. 5004, Kazaure, NigeriaFollow
• Babatunde Saheed Bada, Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, NigeriaFollow
• Abiodun Olusegun Oladoye, Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B 2240, Abeokuta, NigeriaFollow
• Benard Bunde Meer, Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Taraba State University, P.M.B. 1167, Jalingo, NigeriaFollow
• Dau Henry Japheth, Department of Forestry and Wildlife Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 1526, Owerri, NigeriaFollow

Abstract

Rapid urbanization and associated emissions have increased the need to quantify the carbon-storage role of urban green spaces. This study assessed the carbon sequestration potential of roadside tree corridors in Makurdi, within Nigeria’s Guinea Savanna Zone. In this study, sequestration potential denotes standing above-ground carbon stock and carbon dioxide-equivalent stock rather than an annual rate. Six 2 km road segments were purposively selected, and all live trees with diameter at breast height ≥10 cm within a 2 m-wide band on both sides were inventoried, covering 4.8 ha. Stem diameters at the base, middle and upper sections and total height were measured. Tree volume was estimated using Newton’s formula; above-ground biomass was derived from tree volume and wood density; carbon stock was calculated as 50% of biomass, and carbon dioxide-equivalent stock was obtained by multiplying carbon stock by 3.67. The inventory comprised 1,760 trees representing 25 species. Naka Road had the highest numerical mean biomass, carbon stock and carbon dioxide-equivalent stock (2.28, 1.14 and 4.19 t, respectively), but the road effect was not significant, F (5, 1754) = 0.70, p = 0.624, η² = 0.002. Azadirachta indica had the highest descriptive species-level values (5.07, 2.53 and 9.30 t), whereas Moringa oleifera had the lowest. The findings provide a corridor-specific baseline for conserving established roadside trees and guiding diverse, site-appropriate planting. Broader inventories, validated area-based totals, repeated measurements and an urban-emission inventory are required to estimate annual sequestration and mitigation contributions.

Article History

Received: Aug 27, 2025; Accepted: Sep 24, 2026; Published: Sep 30, 2026

Recommended Citation

Akighirga, A. T., Bada, B. S., Oladoye, A. O., Meer, B. B., & Japheth, D. H. (2026). Carbon Sequestration Potential of Urban Green Spaces in Guinea Savanna Area of Nigeria, Journal of Bioresource Management, 13 (3).