Comparative Study of Expected Ecosystem Services and Tree Species Diversity in Residential Plots of Polluted and Unpolluted Neighborhoods in the Copper City of Lubumbashi

Natural ecosystem loss and deterioration in the quality of the urban environment due to rapid urbanization associated with soil pollution by mining activity have become a huge dilemma in the mining city of Lubumbashi (DR Congo). This study aimed to assess the importance attributed to trees through the expected services, species choice and their diversity in the polluted and unpolluted neighborhoods of Lubumbashi. Surveys were conducted on 178 residential plots at Penga Penga and Gécamines (polluted neighborhoods) and Kaleja and Kalebuka (unpolluted neighborhoods). In all the neighborhoods, supplying fruits, shade provision and windbreak were identified as the most expected ecosystem services (ES). Penga Penga residents tended to expect more regulating services than Gécamines, Kaleja and Kalebuka residents, who preferred more provisioning services overall. Thirty‐four tree species were identified during the survey, fruiting exotic species dominated by Mangifera indica and Persea americana (21.2%) were the most frequent in the studied neighborhoods of Lubumbashi, both in the polluted or the unpolluted neighborhoods, but
Acacia auriculiformis, a non‐fruiting species (4.1%) was only more abundant in the polluted site of Penga Penga. Species richness varied among the neighborhoods, with higher values in unpolluted neighborhoods (Kalebuka and Kaleja: 23 and 22, respectively) than in polluted neighborhoods (Gécamines and Penga Penga: 12 and 18, respectively). As reported in the literature, tree species that cope with polluted soils and provide multiple ES in urban or periurban areas are likely a good option for sustainable phytostabilisation in the Katangan Copperbelt.