Urban green spaces as hubs for biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services, and carbon storage: evidence from Shillong, India

Urban greenspaces (UGSs) offer a range of vital ecosystem services, such as climate regulation, biodiversity support, recreational, and tourism opportunities. While urban forests are receiving increasing academic interest, comprehensive evaluations of their ecosystem service contributions remain limited. The present study assessed the tree diversity and above ground carbon storage pattern in the UGSs surrounding the capital city of Shillong, Meghalaya, India. Stratified random quadrat sampling and transact line methods were adopted for analysing vegetation composition with their quantitative characters and commonly used diversity indices. Non-destructive sampling and allometric equations were used to estimate the aboveground biomass (AGB). A total of 142 tree species from 43 families were documented from the study sites. The sites exhibited high species diversity (Shannon-Wiener diversity index (Hʹ) ranging from 0.12 to 3.31)). However, among the documented tree species, Pinus kesiya was the dominant species, with the highest Importance Value Index (IVI) and the largest contribution to aboveground biomass carbon stock. The carbon storage of UGSs was estimated ranging from 52.74 to 276.11 ton ha−1 showing their high potential for climate change mitigation besides providing diverse ecosystem services. They were also found conserving adaptable landraces and indigenous species. The findings underscore the importance of UGSs in mitigating climate change through carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation and therefore urban plans should consider integrating diverse and densely vegetated green areas to enhance ecological resilience and support environmental sustainability.