Ecosystem services mapping for green infrastructure planning-The case of Tehran

Area of Science:

• Urban Ecology
• Environmental Planning
• Ecosystem Services

Background:

• Cities generate over 70% of carbon-related energy emissions, necessitating emission reduction strategies.
• Urban expansion leads to declining and disconnected ecological resources, highlighting the need for effective management.
• Green spaces offer vital ecosystem services, improving urban quality of life and livability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess ecosystem services (supply) and social-ecological needs within urban green spaces.
• To identify urban areas with high social-ecological needs and limited green space supply.
• To establish a foundation for multi-functional green space planning and management.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of ecosystem services provided by green spaces (supply analysis).
• Assessment of social-ecological needs within these spaces (needs analysis).
• Integration of supply and needs analyses to identify priority areas for green space planning.

Main Results:

• Identified urban areas with critical social-ecological needs and insufficient green space provision.
• Provided an assessment of current ecosystem service provision versus ecological and cultural needs.
• Highlighted the necessity of evaluating multiple benefits of urban ecosystem services for effective management.

Conclusions:

• Strategic planning of urban green spaces is essential for mitigating emissions and improving urban ecosystems.
• Integrating social-ecological needs with green space supply analysis is key to effective urban planning.
• Further analysis is required to fully understand and meet the diverse needs supported by urban green spaces.