Lessons learned from implementing the ecosystem services concept in urban planning

authored by: Karsten Grunewald, Olaf Bastian, Jiri Louda, Andrea Arcidiacono, Patrycia Brzoska , Mathilde Bue, Nuket Ipek Cetin, Claudia Dworczyk, Lenka Dubová, Alice Fitch, Laurence Jones, Daniele La Rosa, André Mascarenhas, Silvia Ronchi, Martin Schlaepfer, Daria Sikorska
Abstract: This paper presents a summary of lessons learned from implementing the ecosystem services (ES) approach into urban planning practice in different European urban settings. We summarise a survey co-created with, and presented to, researchers and end-users in city administrations from ten European case study cities. To complement the expert analysis, 14 semi-structured interviews were conducted among stakeholders to assess the use of ES in practice in urban settings. There was strong agreement between scientists and practitioners on both the opportunities and the barriers to uptake the ES concept in urban planning practice. Key agreements were that the ES concept supports decision-making as well as spatial planning, it is most useful as a communication tool, and monetarisation and public pressure can be considered as promoting factors. Barriers are lack of evidence including case studies, standardised methods and criteria to evaluate nature and its benefits, lack of legislations/reform, limited capacity and reluctance to apply ES in planning practice, and limited public involvement. On individual aspects, such as the monetarisation of ES, views differed both among the scientists and the practitioners. Derived from our investigations we summarize in which circumstances the ES concept is most relevant and useful for urban planners and decision-makers.
Organisation(s): Institute of Physical Geography and Landscape Ecology
Physical Geography Group
External Organisation(s): Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development (IOER)
Jan Evangelista Purkyne University in Usti nad Labem
Politecnico di Milano
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Gebze Technical University
Istanbul Technical University
University of Catania
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU Berlin)
Museum für Naturkunde - Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science
NOVA University Lisbon
University of Geneva
Type: Article
Journal: Ecosystem Services
Volume: 2021
ISSN: 2212-0416
Publication date: 06.2021
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Geography, Planning and Development, Nature and Landscape Conservation, Agricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous), Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law, Global and Planetary Change, Ecology
Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
Electronic version(s): https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/530461/1/N530461PP.pdf (Access: Open)
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2021.101273 (Access: Closed)