Assessment of regulating ecosystem functions/services of the urban forests in the Angara region (Eastern Siberia, Russia)

Abstract

Abstract The studies of urban forests were carried out on the territory of the Angara region in cities with a high air pollution index (up to 20) and with a high recreational load. The state of forest biogeocenoses was assessed by the parameters of trees, forest litter, and soil. Morphostructural, physicochemical, biochemical, and toxicological indicators were analysed. It was found that the selected biogeochemical parameters of trees and soils have a high level of correlation relationships under conditions of negative anthropogenic impact. The biogeochemical redistribution of technogenic pollutants in urban forests connects with the accumulating capacity of the soil cover and the regulatory function of trees, namely the ability to purify atmospheric air by accumulating toxicants in the needles and leaves. Regulatory function/service of pollutant absorption and air purification depends not only on the condition of urban forests, it is unequal for forests of different cities and, even more, for different forested territories.