Mapping and assessing ecosystem services to support urban planning: A case study on brownfield regeneration in Trento, Italy

Abstract

This study explores the use of ecosystem service (ES) knowledge to support urban planning in the assessment of future scenarios. The case study concerns the prioritszation of brownfield regeneration interventions in the city of Trento (Italy). Alternative planning scenarios considering the conversion of existing brownfields into new urban parks are assessed and compared. The assessment focuses on two ES of critical importance for the city, namely microclimate regulation and nature-based recreation. The benefits of the different scenarios are quantified based on the number of expected beneficiaries broken down into different vulnerability classes and then compared through a multi-criteria analysis. Three combinations of criteria and weights reflect different planning objectives and related decision-makers' orientations about what ES and beneficiary groups should be prioritised. The application demonstrates the potential for ES assessments to support urban planning processes in the specific phase of assessment and selection of alternatives, by meeting the requirements in terms of both sensitivity to small-scale changes in land uses or management activities and capacity to capture simultaneous variations in supply and demand of multiple ES. convey information about ES in planning decisions. Multi-criteria analysis is an effective way to integrate multiple ES assessments with other information about costs and benefits of planning scenarios, exploring diverse stakeholder perspectives and balancing competing objectives in a rational and transparent way.

Mapping and assessing ecosystem services: Methods and practical applications

“…ESMERALDA*1 (Enhancing ecosystem services mapping for policy and decision-making) was an EU Horizon 2020 Coordination and Support Action dedicated to create a strong pan-European network and to identify and apply methods and case studies for the implementation of MAES*2 (Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services) in EU member states (Burkhard et al 2018b). ESMERALDA aimed to deliver a 'flexible methodology' that can provide innovative building blocks for pan-European, national and regional ES mapping and assessment.…”

“…The first Section of the Special Issue includes six papers that focus mainly on the theoretical and conceptual approaches developed by ESMERALDA. Burkhard et al (2018b) provide an overview of the ESMERALDA project, its objectives, implementation, achievements and 'lessons learnt'. One key objective of the project was to promote transdisciplinary ecosystem assessments that integrate biophysical, social and economic value domains on different levels.…”

“…One key objective of the project was to promote transdisciplinary ecosystem assessments that integrate biophysical, social and economic value domains on different levels. A respective conceptual framework for such integrated ecosystem assessments was developed by Brown et al (2018). When working in interdisciplinary teams, not only a commom conceptual framework is needed, but the team also needs to be aware about using a consistent terminology.…”

“…When working in interdisciplinary teams, not only a commom conceptual framework is needed, but the team also needs to be aware about using a consistent terminology. The 'Glossary of ecosystem services mapping and assessment terminology' by Potschin-Young et al (2018) provides probably the most up-to-date collection and definitions related to ecosystem services mapping and assessment. Consistency is also needed when ES are to be defined and categorised.…”

Assessing Mismatches in the Provision of Urban Ecosystem Services to Support Spatial Planning: A Case Study on Recreation and Food Supply in Havana, Cuba

“…In the case of recreation, studies aimed to locally assess correlations between diverse scenarios of crowding and degradation of recreation potential of green spaces are needed. Also, exploring representative indicators of recreation potential that are related to the case study will provide more accurate results [63].…”