Identifying linkages between urban green infrastructure and ecosystem services using an expert opinion methodology

Area of Science:

• Urban Ecology
• Environmental Planning
• Ecosystem Services

Background:

• Urban environments often lack essential ecosystem services (ES).
• Stormwater green infrastructure (GI) offers a significant opportunity to enhance urban ES.
• Current evidence is insufficient to link specific ES benefits to different GI types for effective urban planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify linkages between 22 ES and 14 GI types in New York City using expert opinion.
• To assess the perceived ES benefits of various GI types among academic experts.
• To inform holistic urban planning by understanding the social and ecological benefits of GI.

Main Methods:

• Expert opinion methodology employed through five interdisciplinary workshops.
• Engaged 46 academic experts to evaluate ES-GI linkages.
• Focused on a New York City context for GI and ES assessment.

Main Results:

• Expert judgment indicated highest ES benefits from larger green spaces, often not primarily designed for stormwater management.
• Vacant land and non-vegetated GI types received the lowest ES benefit ratings.
• Cultural services were identified as the most universally provided ES by GI types.

Conclusions:

• Significant variations in ES benefits exist across different GI types.
• Cultural services are crucial and should be prioritized in future GI research and planning.
• Qualitative insights can be enhanced by including non-academic experts and urban stakeholders in future studies.