Key insights for the future of urban ecosystem services research

• Main Authors: Peleg Kremer, Zoé Hamstead, Dagmar Haase, Timon McPhearson, Niki Frantzeskaki, Erik Andersson, Nadja Kabisch, Neele Larondelle, Emily L. Rall, Annette Voigt, Francesc Baró, Christine Bertram, Erik Gómez-Baggethun, Rieke Hansen, Anna Kaczorowska, Jaan-Henrik Kain, Jakub Kronenberg, Johannes Langemeyer, Stephan Pauleit, Katrin Rehdanz, Maria Schewenius, Chantal van Ham, Daniel Wurster, Thomas Elmqvist
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Resilience Alliance 2016-06-01
• Series: Ecology and Society
• Subjects: biodiversity; social-ecological systems; urban ecology; urban ecosystem services; urban green infrastructure; urban liveability; urban planning
• Online Access: http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol21/iss2/art29/

Understanding the dynamics of urban ecosystem services is a necessary requirement for adequate planning, management, and governance of urban green infrastructure. Through the three-year Urban Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (URBES) research project, we conducted case study and comparative research on urban biodiversity and ecosystem services across seven cities in Europe and the United States. Reviewing > 50 peer-reviewed publications from the project, we present and discuss seven key insights that reflect cumulative findings from the project as well as the state-of-the-art knowledge in urban ecosystem services research. The insights from our review indicate that cross-sectoral, multiscale, interdisciplinary research is beginning to provide a solid scientific foundation for applying the ecosystem services framework in urban areas and land management. Our review offers a foundation for seeking novel, nature-based solutions to emerging urban challenges such as wicked environmental change issues.