Valuing Ecosystem Services and Disservices across Heterogeneous Green Spaces

Christie Klimas,Beth Lawrence,James Montgomery,Allison Williams,Megan Hoff,Jennifer Thompson

doi:10.3390/su8090853

Christie Klimas, Beth Lawrence + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/su8090853

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Abstract

This study investigates small-scale variability in ecosystem services and disservices that is important for sustainable planning in urban areas (including suburbs surrounding the urban core). We quantified and valued natural capital (tree and soil carbon stocks) ecosystem services (annual tree carbon sequestration and pollutant uptake, and stormwater runoff reduction) and disservices (greenhouse gas emissions and soil soluble reactive phosphorus) within a 30-hectare heterogeneous green space that included approximately 13% wetland, 13% prairie, 16% forest, and 55% subdivision. We found similar soil organic carbon across green space types, but spatial heterogeneity in other ecosystem services and disservices. The value of forest tree carbon stock was estimated at approximately $10,000 per hectare. Tree carbon sequestration, and pollutant uptake added benefits of $1000+ per hectare per year. Annual per hectare benefits from tree carbon stock and ecosystem services in the subdivision were each 63% of forest values. Total annual greenhouse gas emissions had significant spatial and temporal variation. Soil soluble reactive phosphorus was significantly higher in the wetland than in forest and prairie. Our results have implications for urban planning. Adding or improving ecosystem service provision on small (private or public) urban or suburban lots may benefit from careful consideration of small-scale variability.

Highlights

With only 2.4% of the global landmass, urban areas house more than half the global population and by 2050, they are expected to hold 70% of the global population [1]
The objective of this study is to investigate the natural capital, ecosystem services, and disservices provided by urban green spaces, using the Prairie Wolf Slough Wetland Forest Preserve (PWS) and an adjacent subdivision as a case study (Figure 1)
This study provides information on small-scale variability in ecosystem services that is important for planning, especially in urban areas where opportunities for creating or improving green space may focus on small public or private lots

Summary

Introduction

With only 2.4% of the global landmass, urban areas house more than half the global population and by 2050, they are expected to hold 70% of the global population [1]. Urban areas can be defined by administrative boundaries, density, or other criteria [3]. In the U.S, urban expansion often occurs via development of residential subdivisions sited along undeveloped edges of existing urban areas [5]. Millington defines urban as giving individuals access to lives that would not be possible elsewhere [2]. This concept of access informs our definition of urban areas. As lower-density development of subdivisions around cities is often created for access to the urban centers, we include subdivisions in our definition of urban. Regardless of definition, urban expansion and human migration to cities and their suburbs makes understanding urban environments, and their associated natural capital and ecosystem services, increasingly important

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