A social-ecological-technological systems framework for urban ecosystem services

authored by: Timon McPhearson, Elizabeth M. Cook, Marta Berbés-Blázquez, Chingwen Cheng, Nancy B. Grimm, Erik Andersson, Olga Barbosa, David G. Chandler, Heejun Chang, Mikhail V. Chester, Daniel L. Childers, Stephen R. Elser, Niki Frantzeskaki, Zbigniew Grabowski, Peter Groffman, Rebecca L. Hale, David M. Iwaniec, Nadja Kabisch, Christopher Kennedy, Samuel A. Markolf, A. Marissa Matsler, Lauren E. McPhillips, Thaddeus R. Miller, Tischa A. Muñoz-Erickson, Emma Rosi, Tiffany G. Troxler
Abstract: As rates of urbanization and climatic change soar, decision-makers are increasingly challenged to provide innovative solutions that simultaneously address climate-change impacts and risks and inclusively ensure quality of life for urban residents. Cities have turned to nature-based solutions to help address these challenges. Nature-based solutions, through the provision of ecosystem services, can yield numerous benefits for people and address multiple challenges simultaneously. Yet, efforts to mainstream nature-based solutions are impaired by the complexity of the interacting social, ecological, and technological dimensions of urban systems. This complexity must be understood and managed to ensure ecosystem-service provisioning is effective, equitable, and resilient. Here, we provide a social-ecological-technological system (SETS) framework that builds on decades of urban ecosystem services research to better understand four core challenges associated with urban nature-based solutions: multi-functionality, systemic valuation, scale mismatch of ecosystem services, and inequity and injustice. The framework illustrates the importance of coordinating natural, technological, and socio-economic systems when designing, planning, and managing urban nature-based solutions to enable optimal social-ecological outcomes.
Organisation(s): Institute of Physical Geography and Landscape Ecology
Digital Landscape Ecology Group
External Organisation(s): New School University
Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies
Stockholm University
Barnard College
University of Waterloo
Arizona State University
North-West University (NWU)
Universidad Austral de Chile
Syracuse University
Portland State University
Utrecht University
City University of New York
Idaho State University
Georgia State University
University of California Merced
Pennsylvania State University
University of Massachusetts Amherst
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Florida International University
Type: Article
Journal: One Earth
Volume: 5
Pages: 505-518
No. of pages: 14
ISSN: 2590-3322
Publication date: 20.05.2022
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Environmental Science(all), Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous)
Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 13 - Climate Action
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2022.04.007 (Access: Open)
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2022.04.007 (Access: Open)