Ecosystem Services and Financial Benefits from Urban Green Spaces using The i-Tree Eco Model: A Case Study of Anandabana, Bhubaneswar

This study evaluated ecosystem services offered by Anandabana (Urban green space), a curated urban forest in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, using the i-Tree Eco model developed by the U.S. Forest Service. The study aimed to quantify carbon storage and sequestration provided by prominent tree species within the park and to assess the applicability of the i-Tree Eco model in an Indian urban context. Field data were collected from 484 individual trees of Acacia auriculiformis, Adenathera pavonina, Alstonia scholaris, Bombax ceiba, Delonix regia, Lagerstroemia speciose, Simarouba glauca and Sterculia foetida. The data on diameter at breast height (DBH), total height, crown spread, and health indicators were processed using the i-Tree Eco model. Study revealed that Anandabana stored approximately 44.48 tons of carbon, valued at ₹16.38 lakhs, and sequestered about 8.63 tons of carbon annually, equating to ₹3.18 lakhs per year. Avoided stormwater runoff was also quantified and it was 123.76 l/tree/year with financial gain of Rs. 11,235.81 from the all species. This study highlights both the strengths and limitations of using i-Tree Eco model in urban ecosystems. This offers a rapid and replicable approach for ecosystem service valuation, limitations arise owing to its default parameters, necessitating local calibration for greater accuracy. Despite challenges, this tool could be used to provide baseline data for urban forest management, climate resilience planning, and policy advocacy.