CITY RENEWAL THROUGH URBAN FORESTATION

Abstract

Urban areas and cities face the rapid degradation of urban green cover, increasing land surface temperature, declining environmental quality, ecological stress, and reduced carbon sequestration capacity. Rapid urbanization and industrial expansion have intensified air pollution, urban heat island effects, biodiversity loss, and environmental imbalance, creating serious challenges for sustainable urban living. Existing urban planning approaches often address infrastructure growth while giving limited attention to ecological restoration and climate resilience. This thesis proposes an integrated framework, “City Renewal,” focused on urban forestation and ecological regeneration to improve environmental quality and urban livability. The research aims to quantify existing environmental stress conditions, assess the carbon sequestration potential of urban forestation, identify suitable ecological restoration zones, and develop a sustainable urban greening model for climate-responsive city development. The primary contribution of this study is a novel integrated framework for urban ecological renewal that strengthens green infrastructure, enhances biodiversity, reduces urban heat stress, and supports sustainable and healthy urban environments through nature-based solutions.