scholarly journals Towards a ‘City in Nature’: Evaluating the Cultural Ecosystem Services Approach to Support Urban Green Space Management

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Fan Koh ◽  
Ho Huu Loc ◽  
Edward Park
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Green Space ◽  
Urban Green Space ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Environmental Research ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cultural Ecosystem Services ◽  
Space Management ◽  
Urban Green

Cultural ecosystem services has been increasingly influential in both environmental research and policy decision-making, such as for urban green spaces However, its popular definition conflates the concepts of ‘services’ and ‘benefits’ which made it challenging for planners to employ it directly for urban green space management. One the most widely used definition of this non-tangible ecosystem services are “functions of environmental spaces and cultural activities which may then result in the enjoyment of cultural ecosystem benefits”; yet the latter itself have never found its way into official laws and regulations. In this study, via a case study in Singapore, we propose new evidence to re-evaluate and re-position the two of the most important emerging concepts in managing the green spaces in urban areas. Using the transdisciplinary mixed methods of public participation GIS and social media text mining analysis, a wealth of cultural ecosystem services and their associated benefits were reported. This was especially so with regards to recreational and aesthetic services and experiential benefits. Recommendations to improve the park were also suggested, alongside sharing of methodological considerations for future research. Overall, this paper recommends the employment of the redefined cultural ecosystem services conceptual framework to generate relational, data-driven and actionable insights to better support urban green space management, which is not only useful to Singapore governments but also world-wide relevant.

scholarly journals Qualitative Exploration of Perception and Use of Cultural Ecosystem Services from Tree-Based Urban Green Space in the City of Zagreb (Croatia)

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 876
Author(s):  
Silvija Krajter Ostoić ◽  
Ana Marija Marin ◽  
Martina Kičić ◽  
Dijana Vuletić
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Place Attachment ◽  
Green Space ◽  
Urban Green Space ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Cultural Ecosystem Services ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
Different Types

Background and Objectives: Cultural ecosystem services of urban green spaces are increasingly important and often recognized as such by people living in urban areas. Qualitative studies on perception of cultural ecosystem services from urban green spaces are still rare. Previous studies addressed only certain types of urban green space and often only some services. There is a lack of understanding how people perceive cultural ecosystem services from different types of tree-based urban green spaces. Hence, the purpose of the study was to explore whether and how people perceive and use cultural ecosystem services of different types of tree-based urban green spaces. Materials and Methods: Focus groups were conducted with citizens in each city district. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and transcripts analyzed in MAXQDA software. We used bottom up code-category-theme approach to analyze the data without predefined set of codes or categories. Results: Place attachment, aesthetic and recreational services were more recognized than educational and cultural identity services. For place attachment, most important single attributes were positive memories, and good maintenance, while most important categories were facilities, existence of emotional ties, possibility of experiences, recreational use and access. Presence of specific tree species and presence of trees in general were most important attributes for aesthetic services, while possibility of experiences and trees were the most important categories. Conclusions: People perceived various cultural ecosystem services from tree-based urban green space, even though some services more than others. Recreation may be the underlying goal of our participants when interacting with tree-based urban nature. Forests, parks were recognized as those providing multiple cultural ecosystem services. However, other types of green spaces were also recognized as bearers of these services, albeit with less services and attributes attached. It supports the importance of careful planning of urban green spaces in terms of providing a variety of green space types. The study provides basis for later quantification of cultural ecosystem services (CES) from tree-based urban green space.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the Equity and Regional Management of Some Urban Green Space Ecosystem Services: A Case Study of Main Urban Area of Xi’an City

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 813
Author(s):  
Hui Dang ◽  
Jing Li ◽  
Yumeng Zhang ◽  
Zixiang Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Carbon Sequestration ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Green Space ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Urban Green Space ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Deposition Flux ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Xi’An City

Urban green spaces can provide many types of ecosystem services for residents. An imbalance in the pattern of green spaces leads to an inequality of the benefits of such spaces. Given the current situation of environmental problems and the basic geographical conditions of Xi’an City, this study evaluated and mapped four kinds of ecosystem services from the perspective of equity: biodiversity, carbon sequestration, air purification, and climate regulation. Regionalization with dynamically constrained agglomerative clustering and partitioning (REDCAP) was used to obtain the partition groups of ecosystem services. The results indicate that first, the complexity of the urban green space community is low, and the level of biodiversity needs to be improved. The dry deposition flux of particulate matter (PM2.5) decreases from north to south, and green spaces enhance the adsorption of PM2.5. Carbon sequestration in the south and east is higher than that in the north and west, respectively. The average surface temperature in green spaces is lower than that in other urban areas. Second, urban green space resources in the study area are unevenly distributed. Therefore, ecosystem services in different areas are inequitable. Finally, based on the regionalization of integrated ecosystem services, an ecosystem services cluster was developed. This included 913 grid spaces, 12 partitions, and 5 clusters, which can provide a reference for distinct levels of ecosystem services management. This can assist urban managers who can use these indicators of ecosystem service levels for planning and guiding the overall development pattern of green spaces. The benefits would be a maximization of the ecological functions of green spaces, an improvement of the sustainable development of the city, and an improvement of people’s well-being.

scholarly journals Quantification and monetary valuation of urban ecosystem services in Munich, Germany

2015 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Aevermann ◽  
Jürgen Schmude
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Green Space ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Urban Green Space ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
Runoff Reduction

AbstractUrban green spaces provide ecosystem services that can be used by the local population. The valuation of these ecosystem services in urban areas gives information for stakeholders and decision-makers to improve urban planning processes. In addition, this information can be used to provide a better understanding of how urban green spaces should be managed. In this study, we quantify and monetize four ecosystem services (carbon sequestration and storage, air pollution removal, runoff reduction, groundwater recharge) provided by the urban green space of Schlosspark Nymphenburg in Munich, Germany. We classify four different land cover types (tree, grass/herbaceous, water, impervious) to calculate different amounts of ecosystem services according to the land cover type. In addition, we quantify the maintenance costs which this urban green space causes to the city of Munich. The interpretation, communication and risks of valuations studies are discussed.

scholarly journals A place‐based participatory mapping approach for assessing cultural ecosystem services in urban green space

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lizzie Jones ◽  
Robert A. Holland ◽  
Jennifer Ball ◽  
Tim Sykes ◽  
Gail Taylor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Green Space ◽  
Urban Green Space ◽  
Participatory Mapping ◽  
Cultural Ecosystem Services ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Mapping Approach

scholarly journals Nourishing and protecting our urban ‘green’ space in a post-pandemic world

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 165-169
Author(s):  
Christopher Rodgers
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Urban Environment ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Open Space ◽  
Green Space ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
Cultural Ecosystem Services ◽  
Planning Policy ◽  
Urban Commons

‘Green spaces’ provide important cultural ecosystem services in our towns and cities. ‘Green’ space may come in many forms – for example parks, village greens, urban commons, or just neglected and undeveloped wasteland. But all of it is important as it can provide much needed space for open air recreation and exercise in crowded urban areas. The covid-19 pandemic and associated lockdown has shown just how important it is for us to have easy access to open space for recreation and exercise. But much of our green space is, in an age of austerity, under threat. Covid-19 has shown that we need to reappraise planning policy for the designation and protection of new areas of green space in our urban environment; to better protect existing open space, including village greens and commons; and to seek to rebalance planning policy to ensure that the drive for new housing does not take place at the expense of ensuring that adequate green space is provided for existing and future communities.

scholarly journals Roślinność wieloletnich nieużytków miejskich – systematyka zbiorowisk, ich struktura i pełnione usługi ekosystemowe = Vegetation of perennial urban wastelands – syntaxonomy, structure and ecosystem services

2021 ◽  
Vol 93 (3) ◽  
pp. 341-363
Author(s):  
Piotr Archiciński ◽  
Piotr Sikorski ◽  
Daria Sikorska ◽  
Arkadiusz Przybysz
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Green Space ◽  
Urban Green Space ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Forest Communities ◽  
Surface Cooling ◽  
Urban Green

There is wide recognition that urban green space provides city residents with considerable benefits, inter alia of an environmental, economic and health-related profile. However, the different types of urban greenery include a rather large proportion taking the form of vegetation on abandoned sites that remain uncultivated, to the extent that a plant cover develops without much active human involvement. Almost by definition, there is only a poor level of recognition of the ecological potential such sites (here referred to as “informal green spaces” – IGS) enjoy, or of their capacity to render a variety of different ecosystem services. Against that background, the work presented here entailed in-depth study of the flora and plant communities present in Warsaw’s informal green spaces, the aim being to better ascertain their role in preserving biodiversity and delivering ecosystem services. Specifically, we identified the plant species composition present at 75 different locations within the urban green space of Poland’s capital city. To qualify for consideration, these sites had to be identified as entirely bereft of vegetation maintenance, or else only minimally subject to it, to the extent that it is largely processes of natural succession that are ongoing. The sites in fact range from wastelands with stabilised vegetation, via urban scrub and forest, through to non-forest habitats, sporadically cultivated and established over 20 years. We determined the density of vegetation present, and examined its structure in relation to various known classes of green space. We further determined the role of various vegetation types in rendering ecosystem services, be that surface cooling, substrate moisture maintenance or a capacity to remove particulate matter from the air. The informal green spaces we investigated are in fact found to comprise mainly-stable forest communities dominated by invasive species of tree (phytosociological Classes Robinietea and Salicetea purpureae), as well as non-forest communities (of Classes Molinio-Arrhenatheretea, Epilobietea and Artemisietea) again largely dominated by invasive plant species. The level of biodiversity here is average, it mostly being common forest and non-forest species that are preserved. However, in exceptional cases, the habitats constituted here do support species rare on a regional scale. It emerges that the forest vegetation is of weakly-diversified structure, as a reflection of the specific strategy invasive species pursue as they form monospecific communities. As noted already, the vegetation of the informal green spaces is seen to be largely dominated by such invasive species. Nevertheless, despite their evidently limited role in preserving biodiversity, these sites represent such a high density and volume of vegetation that their provisioning of ecosystem services is on a high level, especially where forest plant communities are involved. Sites that have come to be dominated by invasive plant species are shown to render ecosystem services comparable with (or sometimes even surpassing) those provided by native species, and this is especially the case when it comes to the removal of particulate matter from air and the exerting of a cooling effect.

scholarly journals Perceptions and Expressions Pertaining to Cultural Ecosystem Services in Urban Green Spaces Using Text Mining Techniques

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hajung Ko
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Urban Space ◽  
Green Space ◽  
Survey Methods ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Subjective Perception ◽  
Cultural Ecosystem Services ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces

Abstract Objectives: To distinguish between the differences in cultural services based on the type of urban green area, through atypical expressions.Context: Urban green spaces provide important ecosystem services, with cultural ecosystem services (CES) playing a significant role in citizens’ lives. Nevertheless, these are often undervalued as it is difficult to quantitatively evaluate the characteristics of an individuals’ subjective perception of urban space. By examining social media content, we can analyze the content created by users and grasp demand values. Methods: This study analyzed urban green areas in the inland of Ansan city in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Data were collected twice, on October 3, 2017 and October 4, 2018, to verify that the extracted keywords were representative. We extracted keywords from blog posts related to CES and evaluated the possibility of using them as quantitative indicators. Results: The results indicate that the perceived expression words were different depending on the type of green space. Certain CES such as “exhibit” and “climbing” are affected by green space type. However, it was difficult to identify emotional responses to CES. We found that some words contained double meanings, which made it difficult to evaluate individuals’ perceptions of CES based on the frequency of specific words.Conclusions: This study demonstrates that social media data on CES greatly extends the type and, especially, the volume and scale of information derived from traditional survey methods. The significance of this study lies in its attempt to quantitatively evaluate the recognition of CES in daily life.

scholarly journals How to plan urban green space in cold regions of China to achieve the best cooling efficiency

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Pang ◽  
Jingyuan Zhao ◽  
Jianxin Zhang ◽  
Li Yang
Keyword(s):  
Green Space ◽  
Influencing Factor ◽  
Urban Green Space ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cold Regions ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
Cooling Effects

Abstract With the acceleration of urbanization, the urban heat island (UHI) effect has intensified. Urban green space can retard the UHI effectively. However, most existing work has only focused on hot regions, while little attention has been paid to cold regions. Furthermore, existing research does not classify urban green spaces according to the presence or absence of water, which will lead to inaccurate results. This paper takes four cities in cold regions of China as examples and studies the cooling effects of two different types of urban green space. The results indicate that for green spaces without water, the cooling intensity is related to the background temperature and area of the green spaces, while for green spaces containing water bodies, the area of the internal water body is the key influencing factor. Specifically, there is a threshold value of efficiency (TVoE) for the area of green spaces without water, while there is no TVoE for green spaces containing water bodies. Additionally, there is a TVoE for the water/land ratio of the green spaces containing water bodies in the four cities. The methods and results of this study can provide reference for future research and for urban planners designing urban green spaces.

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