BEIJING -- Chinese researchers have disclosed that the carbon storage of urban forests increased gradually from 1984 to 2014 in Changchun, the capital city of China's northeast Jilin province, according to Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

A research team from the Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology under the CAS has explored the spatio-temporal changes of the urban forest and its carbon storage in Changchun by combining remote sensing with field-based surveys.

The team demonstrated that the urban forest coverage showed an increasing trend under the rapid urbanization and urban greening.

Changchun has witnessed the gradually increasing carbon storage in urban forests from 1984 to 2014, especially in suburban areas. It was estimated that the average annual increase of carbon storage by the urban forest could offset four percent of the average annual increase of urban carbon emissions.

In addition, the researchers found urban forest carbon density decreased from suburban areas to the downtown area.

The research results can provide theoretical and data basis for better management of urban forests and improving urban forest carbon sink capacity.