Research article2016Peer reviewedOpen access
Key insights for the future of urban ecosystem services research
Kremer, Peleg; Voigt, Annette; Baro, Francesc; Bertram, Christine; Gomez-Baggethun, Erik; Hansen, Rieke; Kaczorowska, Anna; Kain, Jaan-Henrik; Kronenberg, Jakub; Langemeyer, Johannes; Pauleit, Stephan; Hamstead, Zoe; Rehdanz, Katrin; Schewenius, Maria; van Ham, Chantal; Wurster, Daniel; Elmqvist, Thomas; Haase, Dagmar; McPhearson, Timon; Frantzeskaki, Niki; Andersson, Erik; Kabisch, Nadja; Larondelle, Neele; Rall, Emily L.
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Abstract
Understanding the dynamics of urban ecosystem services is a necessary requirement for adequate planning, management, and governance of urban green infrastructure. Through the three-year Urban Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (URBES) research project, we conducted case study and comparative research on urban biodiversity and ecosystem services across seven cities in Europe and the United States. Reviewing >50 peer-reviewed publications from the project, we present and discuss seven key insights that reflect cumulative findings from the project as well as the state-of-the-art knowledge in urban ecosystem services research. The insights from our review indicate that cross-sectoral, multiscale, interdisciplinary research is beginning to provide a solid scientific foundation for applying the ecosystem services framework in urban areas and land management. Our review offers a foundation for seeking novel, nature-based solutions to emerging urban challenges such as wicked environmental change issues.
Keywords
biodiversity; social-ecological systems; urban ecology; urban ecosystem services; urban green infrastructure; urban liveability; urban planning
Published in
Ecology and Society
2016, Volume: 21, number: 2, article number: 29
UKÄ Subject classification
Other Earth and Related Environmental Sciences
Publication identifier
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-08445-210229
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/89406