Assessing and valuing ecosystem services from urban greenery -a method developed based on case studies in Sweden

Despite the knowledge that greenery provides a range of important benefits to city residents, the current fast urban exploitation and densification increases the pressure to transform urban green spaces. The concept of... [ view full abstract ]

Despite the knowledge that greenery provides a range of important benefits to city residents, the current fast urban exploitation and densification increases the pressure to transform urban green spaces. The concept of ecosystem services (ES) has been suggested as an important concept to highlight and evaluate the services provided by greenery in relation to this and other pressures. As a result of this, methods for assessing and valuing the ES:s have been developed. There still is, however, a need of further development of methods that also are easy to use in the planning and decision processes. In response to this we have developed an empirically founded framework for integrated assessments of ES benefits and values of urban greenery. The method is based on identification of what can be measured in the urban environment that relates to specific ecosystem services, , here referred to as indicators, (e.g. leaf area index, species diversity etc.) that. It is based on the so-called cascade model. The empirical data was collected from study areas in Gothenburg, Sweden.  The method output is a semi quantitative estimate of how an area is contributes to regulating ecosystem services such as local climate regulation, air pollutant deposition, noise and storm water management, and cultural ecosystem services such as physical activities and perceived well-being. The method also includes a valuation based on ranking preferences. The method is simple to use, and based on the functional indicators that are easy to measure. The empirical data was achieved, and the method was developed, through a cooperation among a multi-disciplinary team of scientists as well as civil servants. The method is highly requested by spatial planners in cities as well as the transport sector. The aim is accordingly, that the method shall be used in the local/municipal planning processes to investigate the current situation and impacts of future planning alternative.

Key Words: ecosystem service assessment, method spatial planning, urban greenery,