Abeer moussa1*, Zuheir Shater1 and Basima Alcheikh1

1 Department of Forestry and Ecology, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Latakia University, Lattakia, Syria.
(*Corresponding author: Abir Moussa, Email: Abeerceta@gmail.com)

Received: 8/05 /2026       Accepted: 12/07/2026

Abstract: 

Trees in urban green spaces play a vital role in CO₂ management and pollution mitigation. This study, conducted in Tartous City, aimed to estimate the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and oxygen (O₂) absorbed and produced by park trees. Thirty-five parks were selected, and all trees were inventoried, with height and diameter measured at chest height. Biomass, CO₂ absorption, and oxygen production were then estimated. The results showed that the garden trees absorbed 883.61 tons of CO₂ (25.25 ± 22.03) and produced 642.81 tons of oxygen (18.37 ± 16.03). Al-Baraniyah Park demonstrated the highest efficiency in both carbon absorption (104.19) and oxygen production (75.80) in the studied parks. Evergreen species were the most prevalent in the studied parks, exhibiting greater biomass and contributing the highest percentage of carbon absorption and oxygen production. Casuarina cuninghamiana, Ficus nitida, and Melia azedarach trees ranked first in CO₂ absorption (257.47, 205.33 and 126 tons respectively) and in oxygen production (187.32, 149.39 and 92.33 tons respectively). The results confirmed the limited role of palm trees in CO₂ absorption compared to other tree species. Structural characteristics, height, diameter at chest height, and number of trees were key factors explaining the differences in this environmental service provided by the studied parks. The study recommends completing an inventory of all green spaces in the city, taking into account species-specific characteristics and their ability to withstand stressful urban environmental conditions. It also recommends developing species-specific equations to accurately estimate their role in CO₂ absorption.

Keywords: Biomass, urban green spaces, oxygen production, CO₂ sequestration and absorption.

 Full paper in Arabic: PDF