Everyone knows urban parks are valuable, contributing to both public health and biodiversity. Still, pinning down their exact environmental benefits in concrete numbers is often a challenge, especially in dense cityscapes where every square meter is contested. Our study tackled this by assessing the ecosystem services of eight parks in Budapest's District VIII. Using the i-Tree Canopy tool, a standardized method for urban forest analysis, we quantified key metrics like carbon storage, annual carbon sequestration, air pollutant removal, and storm water runoff reduction. The results were clear: together, these parks store around 909 tons of carbon in their biomass and pull down another 36 tons every year, acting as vital, local carbon sinks. The heavy lifting is done by the larger parks, particularly Orczy tér and II. János Pál pápa tér, a direct result of their size and mature tree cover. In economic terms, these benefits are significant, totalling more than €450,000 each year, a figure that underscores their immense public value. Just as important, smaller neighbourhood spots like Mátyás tér provide tangible local perks, proving that green spaces of all sizes are vital to the city's health and resilience. The data makes a strong case for protecting and expanding Budapest's parks, framing such policy not as a cost but as a practical move for building a greener, more climate-ready future. Keywords: urban parks, i-Tree Canopy, carbon sequestration, air pollution benefits

urban parks, i-Tree Canopy, carbon sequestration, air pollution benefits

biology

Presentation: oral presentation