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Katarina Hedlund

Katarina Hedlund

Professor

Katarina Hedlund

A review of studies assessing ecosystem services provided by urban green and blue infrastructure

Author

  • Clara J. Veerkamp
  • Aafke M. Schipper
  • Katarina Hedlund
  • Tanya Lazarova
  • Amanda Nordin
  • Helena I. Hanson

Summary, in English

Urban green and blue infrastructure (GBI) and associated ecosystem services (ES) are increasingly recognized for their potential to address urban sustainability challenges. This has resulted in an increase in studies quantifying ES in cities. In this review, we analysed 850 peer-reviewed publications to characterize urban ES assessment in terms of geographical location, urban GBI type and methodological aspects (e.g. ES indicators). The analyses covered six ES: local temperature regulation, stormwater regulation, waste treatment, air quality regulation, pollination, and recreation and aesthetic appreciation. The majority of ES assessments focused on local temperature regulation (36%) and recreation and aesthetic appreciation (23%) and assessments were often conducted within unspecified green space (30%) and parks (26%). A common method to assess GBI performance was the comparison of ES delivery along a gradient of vegetation cover (24%). Moreover, assessments used a wide variety of ES indicators. Most assessments quantified ecosystem properties (59%), while a minority assessed actual benefits to people, recognized values or societal demands. To advance insights in the effectiveness of GBI, we recommend increased research attention towards i) increasing the coverage of less studied ES, GBI types and geographical regions, ii) quantifying actual benefits of GBI by comparing ES supply and societal demand, and iii) comparing effectiveness across different GBI types and in relation to grey infrastructure.

Department/s

  • Centre for Environmental and Climate Science (CEC)
  • BECC: Biodiversity and Ecosystem services in a Changing Climate

Publishing year

2021-12

Language

English

Publication/Series

Ecosystem Services

Volume

52

Document type

Journal article review

Publisher

Elsevier

Topic

  • Landscape Architecture
  • Environmental Sciences

Keywords

  • Cities
  • Global
  • Indicators
  • Nature's contributions to people
  • Nature-based solutions
  • Sustainability challenges

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 2212-0416