A systematic review on the ecosystem services provided by green infrastructure

Urbanization and climate change are endangering the sustainability of public spaces through increased land artificialization, ecological fragmentation, reduced resource availability, and limited accessibility to natural and seminatural areas. Properly managing Green Infrastructure (GI) can contribute to mitigating these challenges by delivering multiple provisioning, regulating, supporting and cultural Ecosystem Services (ES). This would facilitate the implementation of strategically planned GI networks in cities for urban regeneration purposes. In this context, this study developed a systematic review on the ES provided by GI using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. The analysis of 199 eligible articles indicated that more efforts should be made to address more ES at once, which connects to the need for conceiving GI as a strategically planned network of areas aimed at delivering diverse benefits. Based on the methods used in the items reviewed, geoprocessing tools and multi-criteria decision analysis are proposed to develop systems of indicators capable of accounting for multiple ES. These systems should also rely on multidisciplinary and participative procedures to encompass various facets of GI and represent the priorities of all relevant stakeholders.     

The social and economic value of cultural ecosystem services provided by urban forests in North America: A review and suggestions for future research

With the majority of the world’s human population now living in cities, urban forests provide an increasingly important range of ecosystem services, from improved air quality and climate change adaptation to better public health outcomes and increased tourism revenues. The importance of these ecosystem services in urban environments, and the central role that cities play in the lives of people around the world, have motivated various attempts to quantify the value of ecosystem services provided by urban forests. This paper reviews existing research in the fields of urban forestry, economics, sociology, and health on the value of urban ecosystem services, with a focus on cultural services, a category of ecosystem services that is of key importance to human well-being but that has suffered from a lack of empirical research. The review identified 38 studies that examined the value of mixed vegetation, 31 studies that examined the value of trees, and 43 studies that examined the value of green spaces. Psychological health is the most-studied ecosystem service category, with most research in this area focusing on the services of mixed vegetation. Social health, community economic development, and tourism are the least-studied, with most research in these areas focusing on mixed vegetation and trees. Multiple metrics were used to quantify the value of urban greenery within each ecosystem service category but only 11 metrics were assigned a monetary value. Gaps in the literature that present strong opportunities for future research include: the value of urban forests for improving social health, equitable access to ecosystem services, the impact of urban forests on community economic development, and economic valuation and green exposure metrics. We hope that this review stimulates future research in the areas highlighted and that municipalities consider including evaluations of a broad range of ecosystem services during land use planning and budgeting processes.     

Remote sensing for the assessment of ecosystem services provided by urban vegetation: A review of the methods applied

The study and assessment of ecosystem services through remote sensing has increased substantially over the last two decades, as evidenced by the publication of studies that have applied it. The technological development of satellite images has improved in terms of spatial, spectral, radiometric, and temporal resolution, allowing the space-time observation, classification and monitoring of vegetation on the surface of the Earth. However, there are remaining methodological challenges for assessing ecosystem services due to the diversity of applications, the resources used, and its study in complex environments such as cities. This systematic review is based on identifying and analysing the variety of methods concerning the application of remote sensing for the assessment of ecosystem services provided by vegetation in cities, through a classification of these methods according to the data collection source (passive sensors, passive and active sensors and the fusion of other data sources with sensors). The classification of methods has been applied to a selection of existing articles in indexed scientific databases based on a non-statistical meta-analysis that make a direct reference to the topic of interest. The results show the approaches found in every method classified, their relationships with the geographical scale and the image resolutions used, and the advantages and limitations from the data processes that comprise remote sensing. We conclude from this analysis with three key factors to consider in the selection of remote sensing methods for the assessment of ecosystem services provided by urban vegetation: the definition of the approach(es), the urban scale to be assessed, and the image resolution available.     

张承地区城镇化与生态系统服务协调关系空间分异研究

为了探究城镇化水平与生态系统服务价值的关系,利用综合指数法、价值当量法等方法测算2010、2015、2018年张承地区生态系统服务价值和城镇化水平,并运用空间自相关分析法、排序分析法、弹性系数等研究城镇化与生态系统服务价值的空间相关性特征、相关性强弱和协调关系。结果表明：(1)研究期间,张承地区生态系统服务价值呈现降低趋势,减少7.47×10⁸元。(2)研究期间张承地区城镇化水平总体不高,城镇化综合指数的平均值由0.14上升至0.25。(3)县域协调关系最为显著的是极不协调发展,极不协调发展的县区占50%;尚义县处于协调发展状态;桥东区、桥西区等区域处于冲突状态,其余县区处于潜在威胁状态。(4)张承地区生态系统服务价值与城镇化水平之间存在空间负相关关系,不同县区的城镇化水平多度值位序与生态系统服务价值多度值排序存在显著差异。研究结果有利于进一步丰富城镇化与生态系统服务价值的相互作用理论。     

Assessment of joint soil ecosystem services supply in urban green spaces: A case study in Northern Italy

The multiple functions of urban soils secure the supply of ecosystem services to the urban population, but they are seldom taken into account in current urban planning. The purpose of this study is to highlight the multifunctionality of the soils of urban green spaces and to assess the influence of different types of urban green (i.e. parks and gardens, roadside green and agricultural fields) on the joint supply of soil-based ecosystem services. In a case study area in the city of Carpi (NE Italy), we focused on a set of soil functions underpinning ecosystem services and on possible synergies and trade-offs between them. We surveyed and sampled 19 urban green areas to assess the following soil functions: biological fertility, potential habitat for organisms, water regulation and storage, soil buffering capacity and carbon stock. Results showed differences and trends in the bundles of ecosystem services provided by the soils of urban green areas, highlighting the relevance of soil disturbance and vegetation cover density in affecting soil functions. For biological indicators, results showed a negative significant correlation to CaCO₃ content, which is associated with the degree of soil disturbance, and that soils in urban areas do not always have compromised soil fauna and may provide the same level of biological quality as agricultural soils or forests.     

Urban green spaces and sustainability: Exploring the ecosystem services and disservices of grassy lawns versus floral meadows

Urban green spaces provide important ecological, environmental, and cultural benefits, including biodiversity conservation and human wellbeing. However, a significant portion of urban green space is currently managed as highly manicured grassy lawns that provide limited ecosystem services. Managing urban green spaces as diverse meadows can have a multitude of ecosystem benefits such as biodiversity conservation, stormwater infiltration, and aesthetics. Relatively little is known about the range of ecosystem services or disservices in managing urban green spaces as lawns versus meadows. In this paper, we separately characterize three major categories of ecosystem services and disservices (provisioning, regulation and maintenance, and cultural) delivered by urban lawns and meadows while highlighting several trade-offs and synergies associated with urban lawn and meadow management strategies. Additionally, we suggest specific research priorities to better evaluate ecosystem services and disservices across these urban green spaces. Understanding ecological, environmental, and cultural trade-offs and synergies of managing different urban green spaces is key to maintaining multiple ecosystem services in urban environments.     

红富士苹果郁闭园间伐试验

于2007～2009年,在陕西省白水县对乔砧红富士苹果郁闭园进行间伐试验。结果表明:间伐可显著地促进苹果树外围新梢生长和叶片发育,其外围新梢生长长度、粗度分别比对照增加6.9 cm、0.24 mm;百叶鲜重、单叶面积分别比对照增加10.4 g、扩大7.75 cm~2;单果重、着色指数、可溶性固形物含量、特优级果(80 mm以上)率、667 m~2产量、667 m~2产值、667 m~2纯收益,分别比对照增加23.3 g、12.3、0.36个百分点、21.0个百分点、515.5 kg、2 019.0元、1 319.0元,表明说明间伐可以显著地提高苹果产量、质量和效益。     

Landscape planning for a rural ecosystem: case study of a resettlement area for residents from land submerged by the Three Gorges Reservoir,China

The goals of landscape planning are multiple for rural ecosystems of the resettlement area in the Hubei Province of China. They relate to the types, diversity and patterns of the ecosystems, and to the conservation of ecosystem functions and biodiversity. We were interested in the improvement of socio-economic conditions, and the promotion of the development of farmland ecosystems and natural forest ecosystems. The landscape planning took into account the conservation and the restoration of forestlands, and the reconstructions of farmlands, towns and villages. The areas of towns and villages were assigned by trade-off analysis balancing ecological, economic and social benefits. The spatial pattern of used lands was designed by a multi-criteria optimal spatial planning, resulting in the strengthening of some primary ecosystem functions. In the resettlement area forests will expand to a matrix, and cropland patches together with tree fences will form patch-corridor systems. Significant ecological, economic and social benefits can be derived from this landscape pattern.This revised version was published online in May 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Species richness and ecosystem services of tree assemblages along an urbanisation gradient in a tropical mega-city: Consequences for urban design

We assess how tree species richness and ecosystem services vary along a tropical urbanisation gradient in a rapidly expanding mega-city (Bangkok, Thailand). We conduct tree surveys in 150 1 km cells selected by random stratification across an impervious surface cover gradient. In each cell, surveys were conducted at the centre (representing typical conditions) and in the largest patch of trees (assessing woodland retention impacts). We estimated trees’ contributions to i) carbon storage, ii) food production for people, iii) biodiversity support (production of food for frugivorous birds), and iv) economic value (assessed using regulations for using trees as collateral for financial loans). Surveys detected 162 species (99 natives) indicating substantial species loss relative to nearby natural forests. Despite this, and contrasting with typical patterns in temperate cities, tree species richness (including of natives) and ecosystem service provision is relatively stable across the urbanisation gradient. This finding has two important consequences. First, growing cities through high intensity developments that require less space may benefit regional biodiversity without compromising ecosystem services. Second, even the typically very small woodlands present in highly urbanised locations contribute to supporting biodiversity and providing ecosystem services; thus such woodlands require protection. Species richness is not strongly positively associated with most of our focal ecosystem services. Urban planners must therefore pay attention to both biodiversity and ecosystem services as these do not automatically accrue from each other, partly because non-native species contributed substantially to most ecosystem services except biodiversity support. Finally, trees provide substantial value as collateral for financial loans (averages of £643 ha at random locations and £2282 ha in wooded locations). Policies promoting such valuations may reduce tree removal and encourage tree planting, but the list of eligible species warrants revision to include additional species that enhance biodiversity support, ecosystem services, and resilience against future environmental instability.