Urban Green Spaces as Carbon Reservoirs: Floristic Diversity and Biomass Patterns in Yamoussoukro (Center-Côte d’Ivoire)

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.