Global drivers and tradeoffs of three urban vegetation ecosystem services.

ABSTRACT: Our world is increasingly urbanizing which is highlighting that sustainable cities are essential for maintaining human well-being. This research is one of the first attempts to globally synthesize the effects of urbanization on ecosystem services and how these relate to governance, social development and climate. Three urban vegetation ecosystem services (carbon storage, recreation potential and habitat potential) were quantified for a selection of a hundred cities. Estimates of ecosystem services were obtained from the analysis of satellite imagery and the use of well-known carbon and structural habitat models. We found relationships between ecosystem services, social development, climate and governance, however these varied according to the service studied. Recreation potential was posit

SUBMITTER: Dobbs C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4234474 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature