| Popis: |
The urbanization process continues worldwide and it is expected that by 2050 two thirds of the global population will live in cities. In parallel to the urbanization process, global warming has increased global surface temperature between 0,8 and 1.5°C since pre-industrial levels. Urban areas are particularly vulnerable to the consequences of climate change, such as heat stress, urban flooding, landslides, air pollution, droughts, and water scarcity. The composition of urban land cover can influence the ability of urban areas to adapt to climate change. Urban vegetation such as trees and shrubs can play an important role to reduce the impact of heatwaves in cities; the permeable cover can help reduce potential urban flooding by absorbing and reducing runoff during heavy precipitation. Therefore, quantifying the extent and trends of urban land cover can provide important information for city planners to understand their urban landscape as well as the existing potential for climate change adaptation activities. In this study, we have measured the extension and trends (over a 20-year period) of tree cover and other surfaces (impervious, permeable, others) in 26 Uruguayan cities. Cover classes were identified by random sampling of points on the i-Tree Canopy platform. The results show an increase in tree cover, an increase in impervious cover, and a decrease in herbaceous cover in urban areas. This increase in tree cover is not in line with findings reported in several international studies. The present work is the first analysis for Uruguay in which the dynamics of cover loss and gain (trees, permeable, impervious) in an urban context. |
