A quantitative review of urban ecosystem service assessments

Concepts, models, and implementation

authored by

Dagmar Haase, Neele Larondelle, Erik Andersson, Martina Artmann, Sara Borgström, Jürgen Breuste, Erik Gomez-Baggethun, Åsa Gren, Zoé Hamstead, Rieke Hansen, Nadja Kabisch, Peleg Kremer, Johannes Langemeyer, Emily Lorance Rall, Timon McPhearson, Stephan Pauleit, Salman Qureshi, Nina Schwarz, Annette Voigt, Daniel Wurster, Thomas Elmqvist

Abstract

Although a number of comprehensive reviews have examined global ecosystem services (ES), few have focused on studies that assess urban ecosystem services (UES). Given that more than half of the world's population lives in cities, understanding the dualism of the provision of and need for UES is of critical importance. Which UES are the focus of research, and what types of urban land use are examined? Are models or decision support systems used to assess the provision of UES? Are trade-offs considered? Do studies of UES engage stakeholders? To address these questions, we analyzed 217 papers derived from an ISI Web of Knowledge search using a set of standardized criteria. The results indicate that most UES studies have been undertaken in Europe, North America, and China, at city scale. Assessment methods involve biophysical models, Geographical Information Systems, and valuation, but few study findings have been implemented as land use policy.

External Organisation(s)

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU Berlin)
Stockholm Resilience Centre (SRC)
University of Salzburg
Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB)
Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics
New School University
Technical University of Munich (TUM)

Type

Review article

Journal

AMBIO

Volume

43

Pages

413-433

No. of pages

21

ISSN

0044-7447

Publication date

05.2014

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Environmental Chemistry, Geography, Planning and Development, Ecology

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 15 - Life on Land

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-014-0504-0 (Access: Open)