A preliminary study on the benefits of urban parks in Ho Chi Minh City using i-Tree tools

Abstract

Green spaces in urban areas are essential for improving environmental sustainability and resilience in fast-growing cities such as Ho Chi Minh City. This study utilized i-Tree tools to assess and compare the ecological and economic contributions of two urban parks, Tao Dan Park and 23/9 Park. The results revealed distinct land cover distributions, with Tao Dan Park having greater tree/shrub and herb/grass cover, while 23/9 Park had more impervious surfaces. Key species such as Dipterocarpus alatus in Tao Dan Park and Peltophorum pterocarpum in 23/9 Park highlighted differences in species importance and ecological contributions. Tao Dan Park’s older trees exhibited higher carbon storage, particularly in the largest diameter class, with an estimated storage of 1,337 tons of carbon valued at USD 24,512 using i-Tree Eco, compared to 276.1 tons valued at USD 5,062 in 23/9 Park. Additionally, Tao Dan Park outperformed 23/9 Park in oxygen production, carbon dioxide absorption, avoided runoff, and PM_2.5 removal. Compared to i-Tree Canopy, the i-Tree Eco model provided more detailed and accurate in terms of ecological and economic values, which were used to estimate the annual financial benefits of the parks at USD 5,121 for 23/9 Park and USD 17,639 for Tao Dan Park. To fully leverage the potential of i-Tree Eco, future research should investigate the integration of this model into urban park management to enhance ecosystem services and support sustainable urban planning strategies.