Ecosystem Services and Urban Planning: A Review of the Contribution of the Concept to Adaptation in Urban Areas
Abstract
:1. Introduction
1.1. Research Problem and Objective
1.2. Brief Introduction to the Concept
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Methods
2.2. Data Sources and Treatment
3. Results
3.1. Bibliometric Analysis
3.2. Review of Articles with Highest Impact
4. Discussion
4.1. Scientific Interest and Interdisciplinarity
4.2. Research Approaches in the Urban Environment Involving Different Evaluation Methods
4.3. Challenges for Future Studies
5. Conclusions
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Relationship between Ecosystem Services and Tackling Climate Change in the Urban Context Addressed? | Method Employed? | |
---|---|---|
SANDIFER, P.A., 2015 [38] | Partially. The study made an association between ESs and adaptation to climate change but focused more on health-related benefits in the form of human well-being. The authors highlighted the need for a new vision of urban planning centered on human well-being and a fresh interdisciplinary approach. | Review of the literature focused on peer-reviewed high-relevance articles. Given the interdisciplinary nature of the subject matter, articles from different knowledge areas were reviewed (ecology and ecosystem services, public health, biomedicine, urban planning, and psychology, among others). |
NORTON, B.A., 2015 [11] | Yes. The study reported a direct relationship between ESs provided by green infrastructure and adaptation to climate change with an emphasis on mitigating high temperatures in urban areas, citing other complementary benefits. | Quantitative assessment with use of GIS software combining census/demographic data, temperature, land use, and social vulnerability. |
DEMUZERE, M., 2014 [9] | Yes. The article noted that green areas/infrastructure promote ecosystem services that yield biophysical and psychological benefits, while also helping toward adaptation to and mitigation of climate change. The categories showing greatest evidence were: health and restoration benefits, social and individual response capacity, and education; flood reduction, improvement in water quality, and reduction in CO2. | Systematization of evidence found in the literature regarding benefits of urban green infrastructure for adaptation to and mitigation of climate change on three different scales. |
LOVELL, S.T., 2013 [39] | Yes. The authors argued cities are socioecological systems and that promoting ecosystem services in urban areas via green infrastructure, together with the participative process, increases resilience and adaptation to the challenges of climate change. | Review of the literature, description of tools supporting application of green infrastructure, and selecting strategies of engaging the community in the planning process. |
NIEMELA, J., 2010 [6] | Yes. The authors showed that the ESs approach provides an opportunity for urban region planning from a more ecological and sustainable perspective and that conservation of ecosystems and urban planning can mitigate the effects of climate change on urban regions. | Qualitative assessment on how the ESs approach has been used in planning and conservation of green areas based on the case of Finland. |
KABISCH, N., 2016 [4] | Yes. The authors, however, used the NbS concept, pointing to the benefits of ecosystem-based solutions for adaptation and mitigation of climate change in the context of cities. The authors recognized the NbS concept is linked to other concepts involving ecology aspects proposing solutions for cities, such as “green infrastructure” and “ecosystem-based adaptation”, among others. | Qualitative assessment based on a Workshop involving experts from different disciplines addressing NbS and their relationship with adaptation to and mitigation of climate change. The workgroups discussed: (1) indicators for measuring the effectiveness of NbS for mitigation of and adaptation to climate change and associated benefits; (2) gaps in knowledge on the effectiveness of NbS in cities; (3) barriers to implementing NbS; and (4) opportunities for facilitating the action of NbS. |
HAASE, D., 2012 [43] | Partially. The article did not make a direct reference to the climate change issue, but touches on the role of ESs in urban regions for improving local climatic conditions, potential for the areas of recreation and biodiversity, food production, and carbon absorption. | A quali-quantitative assessment using GIS software drawing on land cover data (1990, 2000, and 2006) and ES indicators of local climate regulation, above-ground carbon storage, biodiversity potential, food production, and recreation potential. |
MATTHEWS, T., 2015 [40] | Yes. The authors, however, focused on the concept of green infrastructure. | Qualitative method of reviewing the literature and conducting semi-structured interviews with urban planners from academic and both public and private sectors engaged in climate change, land planning, and green infrastructure. |
SALMOND, J.A., 2016 [10] | Yes. The results highlighted ESs that benefit the local context and help promote adaptation to climate change, but also revealed ecosystem “disservices” at a local scale, such as increasing pollen and allergies. | Qualitative method of revising the literature based on a matrix of ecosystem services focused on urban areas at a local scale. |
MEEROW, S., 2019 [42] | No. The article provided a critical analysis of the urban resilience concept, associated with climate change, showing its tensions, conflicts, and trade-offs. | Qualitative method with scenario modelling using GIS software. |
GILL, S.E., 2008 [12] | Partially. The article cited the potential of ESs and green infrastructure in the context of climate change, but its scope centered on methodologies for characterizing urban areas (land cover, more accurate mapping of green areas) to support plans and projects related to the issue. | Urban morphology-type mapping and land surface analysis to support assessments of ESs and aid green infrastructure planning and strategies for adaptation to climate change based on the case of a region in Manchester (UK). |
GRET-REGAMEY, A., 2008 [41] | No. The articles involved a model for assessing and valuing ESs for building scenarios to aid decision-makers in visualizing impacts. The authors made an association between ESs and local benefits, but not with climate change. | Scenario building, process of modelling, and economic evaluation, all integrated in GIS software, followed by building scenarios for assessing impacts. |
Concept | Roots/Origin and Definition | Current Focus | Governance Focus | Use in Urban Context | Application in (Planning) Practice |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
NbS | New concept, definition still under debate/development | Dealing with multiple societal challenges; biodiversity seen as central to solution | Integrative and governance-based approaches are embraced | Urban focus from the start | Still needs to be developed, but has a strong action focus (problem solving) |
Rooted in climate change mitigation and adaptation | |||||
EbA | Rather new concept, with definition which is still debated | Climate change adaptation | People-centered approach; bottom-up andparticipatory approaches are called for | Focus initially mostly on wider agriculture and forestry, but now increasingly also urban | Still needs to be developed |
Rooted in climate change adaptation | |||||
GI | Concept with a history of about two decades; in Europe more recent; definition quite well established but also divergent | Broad socioecological focus, with major role for landscape architecture and landscape ecology | Participatory planning processes are favored | Well established | Very well established |
Rooted in controlling urban sprawl, ecological network creation, but also stormwater management | |||||
ESs | Longest history and definition well established, although still debated | Biodiversity conservation by (economic) valuationof services provided by nature | Focus on governance aspects, participation | Urban ESs have been in focus only more recently | Partly established, but needsoperationalisation through otherconcepts (such as GI, NbS) |
Rooted in biodiversity conservation |
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Marques, A.L.; Alvim, A.T.B.; Schröder, J. Ecosystem Services and Urban Planning: A Review of the Contribution of the Concept to Adaptation in Urban Areas. Sustainability 2022, 14, 2391. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14042391
Marques AL, Alvim ATB, Schröder J. Ecosystem Services and Urban Planning: A Review of the Contribution of the Concept to Adaptation in Urban Areas. Sustainability. 2022; 14(4):2391. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14042391
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarques, Andresa Ledo, Angélica Tanus Benatti Alvim, and Jörg Schröder. 2022. "Ecosystem Services and Urban Planning: A Review of the Contribution of the Concept to Adaptation in Urban Areas" Sustainability 14, no. 4: 2391. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14042391