Submission Type
Poster
Abstract
Ecosystem services are life sustaining benefits provided by the environment. Canopy cover composition dictates ecosystem services supplied by a specific landscape. SUNY Geneseo is committed to creating a sustainable campus and maintaining the ethical stewardship of our natural and social environment. Understanding how ground cover influences ecosystem services is an important step to evaluating how our managed environment influences sustainability goals. iTree Canopy was used to evaluate canopy cover classes including tree, herbaceous, and bare ground, for SUNY Geneseo's campus. Using historical imagery in Google Earth Pro we were able to compare canopy cover from 2002 with the most recent satellite data from 2021. This study assessed ecosystem services including carbon sequestration, air purification, and runoff prevention, as well as assigning monetary value to those services. Based upon 2021 imaging, sequestered and stored carbon in trees is equivalent to 6,939 tons or $10,088 in environmental mitigation. Air pollution mitigated is equal to 2,783 lbs of greenhouse gasses or $201 in damage avoided. Finally the avoided runoff is estimated at 28.51 Kgal or $255. The top three cover classes by percentage cover in 2021 are grass/herbaceous at 36.99%, tree/shrub at 25.11%, and impervious road at 18.72%. The results will be compared to other landscapes of similar size and level of development. This research can contribute to a broader understanding of canopy covers influence on sustainable land management. Furthermore, it can inform how SUNY Geneseo canopy cover compares to comparable landscapes.
Recommended Citation
Ciccolini, Ryan, "336-Evaluating Ecosystem Services of Canopy Cover on SUNY Geneseo’s Campus" (2024). GREAT Day Posters. 92.
https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/great-day-symposium/great-day-2024/posters-2024/92
336-Evaluating Ecosystem Services of Canopy Cover on SUNY Geneseo’s Campus
Ecosystem services are life sustaining benefits provided by the environment. Canopy cover composition dictates ecosystem services supplied by a specific landscape. SUNY Geneseo is committed to creating a sustainable campus and maintaining the ethical stewardship of our natural and social environment. Understanding how ground cover influences ecosystem services is an important step to evaluating how our managed environment influences sustainability goals. iTree Canopy was used to evaluate canopy cover classes including tree, herbaceous, and bare ground, for SUNY Geneseo's campus. Using historical imagery in Google Earth Pro we were able to compare canopy cover from 2002 with the most recent satellite data from 2021. This study assessed ecosystem services including carbon sequestration, air purification, and runoff prevention, as well as assigning monetary value to those services. Based upon 2021 imaging, sequestered and stored carbon in trees is equivalent to 6,939 tons or $10,088 in environmental mitigation. Air pollution mitigated is equal to 2,783 lbs of greenhouse gasses or $201 in damage avoided. Finally the avoided runoff is estimated at 28.51 Kgal or $255. The top three cover classes by percentage cover in 2021 are grass/herbaceous at 36.99%, tree/shrub at 25.11%, and impervious road at 18.72%. The results will be compared to other landscapes of similar size and level of development. This research can contribute to a broader understanding of canopy covers influence on sustainable land management. Furthermore, it can inform how SUNY Geneseo canopy cover compares to comparable landscapes.