scholarly journals Assessing urban recreation ecosystem services through the use of geocache visitation and preference data: a case-study from an urbanised island environment

One Ecosystem ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. e24490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mario V Balzan ◽  
Iain Debono
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Spatial Data ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Ecosystem Service ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Cultural Landscapes ◽  
Stated Preference ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Cultural Ecosystem Service ◽  
Direct And Indirect Benefits

Recreation is an important cultural ecosystem service and is one way in which communities experience the direct and indirect benefits arising from the experiential use of their environment. The recent rise in popularity of Global Positioning System (GPS) game applications, which combine information technology with an activity that increases mobility and encourages outdoor enjoyment, provides ecosystem service practitioners with an opportunity to make use of this georeferenced data to assess recreational ecosystem services. Geocaching is one such worldwide outdoor game. It has fixed points of incursion where people can hide and look for caches. This study explores the possibility of using geocaching data as a proxy for recreational ecosystems services in the Maltese Islands. A quantitative analysis of the georeferenced caches was used together with their visit rates and number of favourite points. This was supplemented by two questionnaires that investigated the preferences and experiences of both geocache placers (n=39) and hunters (n=21). Results show that the highest number of caches were placed and searched for in urban areas and that geocaching is strongly associated with the presence and accessibility of urban green infrastructure. The number of geocachers who stated preference for experiences in nature did not translate into high visit rates to sites of high conservation value (protected areas) but landscape value was significantly associated with recreational ecosystem services flow. The results presented here provide evidence that geocaching spatial data can act as an indicator for assessing and mapping recreational ecosystem services in urban environments and in cultural landscapes.

scholarly journals Devising Urban Biodiversity Habitat Provision Goals: Ecosystem Services Analysis

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maibritt Pedersen Zari
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Ecosystem Service ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Comparative Case Study ◽  
Urban Habitat ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Analysis Methodology ◽  
Negative Environmental Impact

This paper employs a unique ecosystem services analysis methodology to evaluate how cities could support or generate ecosystem services. Ecosystem services analysis can provide quantifiable goals for urban ecological regeneration that are determined by the site-specific ecology and climate of an urban area. In this research, the ecosystem service of habitat provision is the key focus. The role of urban green space and urban forests is crucial within this. Setting ambitious targets for urban ecological performance and ecosystem services provision is of great importance due to the large negative environmental impact that cities currently have on ecosystems and, therefore, ecosystem service provision, and because healthier ecosystems enable humans to better adapt to climate change through creating potentials for increased resilience. A comparative case study analysing the ecosystem service of habitat provision in two existing urban environments with similar climates (Cfb according to the Köppen Climate Classification System) but in different parts of the world, namely Wellington, New Zealand and Curitiba, Brazil, was conducted to examine how the ecosystem services analysis concept can used to devise urban habitat provision goals. The paper concludes that, although achieving habitat provision goals derived from ecosystem services analysis in urban areas is likely to be difficult, determining quantitative site- and climate-specific staged goals could enable urban design professionals to increase the effectiveness of conservation and regeneration efforts in terms of ecosystem service provision from urban green and blue spaces.

Container gardens: Possibilities and challenges for environmental and social benefits in cities

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Ayako Nagase ◽  
◽  
Jeremy Lundholm ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
Urban Greening ◽  
Education Material ◽  
Artificial Ecosystems ◽  
Direct And Indirect Benefits ◽  
Further Development

Container gardens are used in cities around the world where access to soil at ground level is limited. They represent artificial ecosystems but often provide the only vegetation in some highly urbanized locations, and have been used in vertical and horizontal forms of living architecture. Although there are many container gardens in urban areas, container gardening as a component of more broadly considered green infrastructure seems to be unappreciated. The aim of this review is to elucidate potential ecosystem services provided by container gardening. The ultimate goal of this review is to recognize the value of container gardens in order to promote them as part of green infrastructure in urban areas. The ecosystem services which container gardens provide were sorted into the following categories (1) Provisioning (food production and security); (2) Regulating (stormwater management, improvement of air quality, energy savings and thermal comfort); (3) Habitat/Supporting (plant biodiversity and creation of animal habitats); (4) Cultural (aesthetic and improvement of visible green ratio, communication and environmental education, material reuse). Container gardens deserve serious attention as a form of urban greening that can provide many direct and indirect benefits to people living in cities. Moreover, it is important for citizens, local authorities and academics to be aware of the ecosystem services associated with container gardening to promote further development of its potential.

scholarly journals Biomimetic Urban and Architectural Design: Illustrating and Leveraging Relationships between Ecosystem Services

Biomimetics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 2
Author(s):  
Maibritt Pedersen Zari
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Urban Design ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Architectural Design ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Spatial Design ◽  
Key Barrier

Redesigning and retrofitting cities so they become complex systems that create ecological and cultural–societal health through the provision of ecosystem services is of critical importance. Although a handful of methodologies and frameworks for considering how to design urban environments so that they provide ecosystem services have been proposed, their use is not widespread. A key barrier to their development has been identified as a lack of ecological knowledge about relationships between ecosystem services, which is then translated into the field of spatial design. In response, this paper examines recently published data concerning synergetic and conflicting relationships between ecosystem services from the field of ecology and then synthesises, translates, and illustrates this information for an architectural and urban design context. The intention of the diagrams created in this research is to enable designers and policy makers to make better decisions about how to effectively increase the provision of various ecosystem services in urban areas without causing unanticipated degradation in others. The results indicate that although targets of ecosystem services can be both spatially and metrically quantifiable while working across different scales, their effectiveness can be increased if relationships between them are considered during design phases of project development.

scholarly journals PARAMETERS OF INTEREST FOR THE DESIGN OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

2019 ◽  
pp. 92-101
Author(s):  
Marija Šperac ◽  
Dino Obradović
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Urban Environment ◽  
Air Temperature ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Hydrological Cycle ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Land Surfaces ◽  
Selection Of

The urbanization process significantly reduced the permeability of land surfaces, which affected the changes of runoff characteristics and the relations in the hydrological cycle. In urban environments, the relationships within the hydrological cycle have changed in quantity, in particular: precipitation, air temperature, evaporation, and infiltration. By applying the green infrastructure (GI) to urban environments is beneficial for the water resources and the social community. GI has an effect on the improvement of ecological, economic, and social conditions. Using GI into urban areas increases the permeability of land surfaces, whereby decreasing surface runoff, and thus the frequency of urban floods. It also has a significant influence on the regulation of air quality, water purification, climate change impact, and the changes in the appearance of the urban environment. When planning and designing the GI, it is necessary to identify the type of GI and determine the size and location of the selected GI. Since each urban environment has its own characteristics, it is necessary to analyze them before deciding on the GI. The paper analyzed meteorological parameters (precipitation, air temperature, insolation, air humidity) affecting the selection of GI types, using the specific example of an urban environment – the City of Osijek, Croatia. Significant parameters when designing GI are operation and maintenance These parameters directly affect the efficiency of GI. The proper selection of GI and its location results in maximum gains: the reduction of land surface drainage - drainage of the sewage system, purification and retention of precipitation at the place of production, the improvement of air quality, and the improvement of living conditions in urban environments

scholarly journals IDENTIFICATION OF DEVELOPMENT DETERMINANTS OF GREEN INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR URBAN AREAS – POLISH CASE STUDY

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-60
Author(s):  
Magdalena Nowak ◽  
Agnieszka Dawidowicz ◽  
Ryszard Źróbek ◽  
Mai Do Thi Tuyet
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
Spatial Data ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Impact Factors ◽  
Green Is ◽  
Data Infrastructure ◽  
Urban Greenery ◽  
The Creation ◽  
Green Information Systems

The green information systems (green IS) address the demand for information about green spaces in both urban and non-urbanized areas. This systems are part of green infrastructure (GI) and National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI). GI are very important for the urban environment, and it improves the quality of life. There are various types of urban greenery. The green IS can support the management, maintenance, monitoring, protection and revitalization of urban greenery and all GI. This systems contribute to the sustainable development of urban areas, the development of smart and green cities and spatially enabled societies where community members are involved in local projects. In Poland, few cities have so far taken the effort to create a green IS due to the costs of starting and maintaining the system. Municipalities give up the creation of this system because it is not a good first necessity. However, green infrastructure is developing in Poland and there is a strong demand for green IS for easier GI management. Therefore, the aim of the research was to identify various determinants (factors) that may affect the development of green IS in Poland. Analysisof determinants is necessary and important from the point of view of knowledge of mechanisms affecting the development of green IS and may be useful to develop a strategy for further activities promoting the creation of green IS in all cities in Poland. The research results provided the basis for distinguishing groups of impact factors due to their specificity and showed which instruments are applied to them taking into account global and local initiatives.

scholarly journals Quantifying the Economic Value of Ecosystem Services in Oil Palm Dominated Landscapes in Riau Province in Sumatra, Indonesia

Land ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ando Aulia ◽  
Harpinder Sandhu ◽  
Andrew Millington
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Oil Palm ◽  
Ecosystem Service ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Economic Sustainability ◽  
Cultural Services ◽  
Total Economic Value ◽  
Cultural Ecosystem Service ◽  
Farming Households ◽  
Provisioning Services

Ecosystem services in oil palm plantations owned by smallholders in four villages in the Riau Province, Indonesia were identified and valued. Nine provisioning, three regulating and maintenance, one cultural ecosystem service, and a single ecosystem dis-service, were identified from interviews with 62 farming households. Direct and indirect market valuation methods were used to estimate the total economic value (TEV) of these services, which averaged USD 6520 ha−1 year−1 (range = USD 2970–7729 ha−1 year−1). The values of provisioning services were USD 4331 ha−1 year−1 (range = USD 2263–5489 ha−1 year−1), regulating and maintenance services were valued at USD 1880 ha−1 year−1 (range of USD 707–3110 ha−1 year−1), and cultural services were USD 309 ha−1 year−1. We conclude that identifying and valuing ecosystem services offers an opportunity to improve the environmental and economic sustainability of smallholders in oil palm landscapes in Indonesia.

scholarly journals Identifying the Planning Priorities for Green Infrastructure within Urban Environments Using Analytic Hierarchy Process

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (13) ◽  
pp. 5468
Author(s):  
Yeeun Shin ◽  
Suyeon Kim ◽  
Sang-Woo Lee ◽  
Kyungjin An
Keyword(s):  
Analytic Hierarchy Process ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Analytic Hierarchy ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
Government Sector ◽  
The Government ◽  
Hierarchy Process ◽  
Design And Construction

Urban environmental issues such as declining air quality and increasing urban heat island effects can be managed by the effective use of urban green spaces. Consequently, the importance of green infrastructure (GI) has rapidly increased over time. While the various functions of GI have been investigated in numerous studies, limited research has focused on prioritizing those factors which impact the planning and development of GI. This study used literature reviews, expert surveys, and an analytic hierarchy process methodology to identify and prioritize the critical factors influencing GI during the design and construction process to enhance the role of GI in urban areas. Experts were asked to prioritize four primary (ecological, landscape, usability, and economic factors) and 16 secondary aspects of GI design. Respondents strongly agreed on the importance of the ecological aspects of GI, while the government sector also highlighted the importance of economic concerns, such as ongoing maintenance. Results indicated that the priorities for creating GI require further analysis and mediation between stakeholders. Further empirical evidence should be accumulated regarding the functions of GI for policy implementation in design and construction.

scholarly journals Heterogeneity in Ecosystem Service Values: Linking Public Perceptions and Environmental Policies

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 1217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Pan ◽  
Yue Che ◽  
Stuart Marshall ◽  
Lorraine Maltby
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Urban Communities ◽  
Ecosystem Service ◽  
Public Perception ◽  
Environmental Policies ◽  
Public Perceptions ◽  
Rural Regions ◽  
Cultural Ecosystem Service ◽  
The City

One way of linking research and environmental policies is to increase public participation and identify ecosystem services valued by society, but the reasons influencing ecosystem values can vary. Our study investigates the reasons influencing ecosystem service values at the third largest freshwater lake in China, Lake Tai (Taihu). We interviewed 257 rural and 257 urban respondents in four cities and their respective rural regions surrounding the lake. Respondents were more willing to pay to protect a provisioning ecosystem service than a cultural ecosystem service, and those emotionally attached to the lake may value it more highly. There is also spatial heterogeneity in respondents’ ecosystem values. Rural communities ranked directly used ecosystem services higher than urban communities. The city that respondents lived in also significantly affected the amount they were willing to pay for ecosystem services. Identifying potential reasons behind ecosystem service values can provide insights into linking public perception and policy making, helping to form environmental policies that reflect societal values.

scholarly journals ESDA (Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis) of Vegetation Cover in Urban Areas—Recognition of Vulnerabilities for the Management of Resources in Urban Green Infrastructure

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1933
Author(s):  
Ana Clara M. Moura ◽  
Bráulio M. Fonseca
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Spatial Data ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Vegetation Cover ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Spatial Behavior ◽  
Spatial Data Analysis ◽  
Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis ◽  
Local Index

From the mapping of urban vegetation cover by high-resolution orthoimages, using IR band and NDVI classification (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index), added to three-dimensional representation obtained by LiDAR capture (Light Detection and Ranging), the volumetric values of vegetal cover are obtained as a base to construct spatial analysis in the district of Pampulha, in Belo Horizonte, investigating the role it plays in the neighborhood. The article aims to analyze the relationship between vegetation cover, income distribution and population density, as a support to urban environmental quality management. It applies Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis (ESDA) to identify the presence of clusters and patterns of spatial distribution and to examine spatial autocorrelation. The results confirm the concentration of vegetation cover in areas of high income and lower population density but the main contribution of the study is the use of a method to analyze the spatial behavior of this distribution. Calculating Moran global index and local index (LISA), these spatial combinations are mainly used to identify transformation pressures, which may result in the definition of priorities for public actions and the construction of proposals for parameterization of vegetation cover to support plans related to green infrastructure in urban areas.

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