Characteristics of soils in urban environments; Fostering soil organic carbon sequestration in urban infrastructures; Organic waste recycling to foster soil organic carbon storage in urban soils in the context of a circular urban economy In urban areas, the nature and distribution of soil C are highly heterogeneous, ranging from organic matter in soils of parks or lawns to carbon-rich artefacts and contaminants in man-made structures. Similar to rural areas, SOC sequestration in urban soils is influenced by land-use and management practices. Extensive management of urban infrastructures may counteract trade offs of SOC sequestration in form of greenhouse gas emissions, water use and pollution. Although many urban soils may contain substantial amounts of C, their SOC sequestration potential has been poorly quantified. Improving SOC sequestration may be necessary to secure the broad range of ecosystem services that urban soils can deliver.
