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1
Hreinsdóttir, Hildur, and zu Bentrup Lea Meyer. "How do we experience parks? Social benefits of ecosystem services with an increased connectivity of sub-urban parks." Thesis, Malmö högskola, Fakulteten för kultur och samhälle (KS), 2015. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:mau:diva-23731.
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Our motivation for this research is the interest we have for positive influences of green areas on people's well-being and social improvement. We see nature, the ecosystems and its services, integrated with humans as a whole, making our lives physically and mentally more sustainable. Therefore the purpose of this study is to investigate the social benefits of selected ecosystem services in sub-urban parks in Malmö City, and to explore how the respected services can be enhanced with a greater connectivity of the parks. A survey and interviews were used to collect information about people's preferences and values about nature parks and their opinion on possible connectivity of three sub-urban parks in Malmö, Sweden. The results show that people are overall positive with the recreational and aesthetic values of parks but show less appreciation for the parks as pure nature represents. Connectivity is not clearly understood by the participants but seems to be positively accepted. To give an idea on how Malmö could improve urban biodiversity and facilitate enjoyable nature experiences we give some practical suggestions for a green corridor.
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Curtis, Ian Arthur. "Valuing ecosystem services in a green economy." Thesis, James Cook University, 2003. https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/76/1/01front.pdf.
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SCOPE: Ecosystems are being degraded and destroyed worldwide at a rate unprecedented in human history. Accordingly a great deal of interest is currently being focussed on ecosystems, the role they play in planetary life support, and the need for a market mechanism to conserve these formerly regarded 'free' goods and services. This research project is concerned with the various divisions or branches within economics dealing with environmental valuation, including applied economics in the form of valuation practice, environmental science, and ecology. It is thus both multi-disciplinary and interdisciplinary and has as its central theme the use of a surrogate market to establish shadow prices for ecosystem services.
METHODOLOGY: Twenty ecosystem attributes were identified as being common to all ecosystems depending on the level of integrity, and ranked in order of importance on the basis of a range of criteria. This was achieved by a systematic analysis, namely a multiple criteria analysis, and a social study, in the form of a Delphi philosophical inquiry. These two methods incorporated many different perspectives: namely anthropocentric, utilitarian (economic), ecological, aesthetics, equity, risk and uncertainty. The weightings provided by the panellists were non-pecuniary, and as such were not subject to any bias or odium that may have been associated with putting monetary values on nature’s gifts. The non-pecuniary weightings assigned by the panellists were converted to dollar values by empirically linking them to the surrogate market, namely the property market in the region, and calculating the value of a flow of benefits emanating from them (the economic rent). A valuation table was devised to assess the ecosystem integrity of individual ecosystems on private or public land and a conceptual model devised for landscapes. The case study area was the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area of northeast Queensland.
RESULTS: The Delphi panel reached consensus in all three rounds of questionnaires, and the weights provided for the twenty attributes for all three models in the multiple criteria analysis showed a significant level of agreement between the disciplines represented on the panel. The ten ecosystem services ranked most important were: biodiversity; refugia; erosion control/soil and sediment retention; genetic resources; gas regulation; climate regulation; biological control; purification (clean air, water); disturbance regulation; and aesthetics, in that order. The total value of ecosystem goods and services in all the tenure categories in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area (8,944 km2) was determined to be in the range AUD$188 to $211 million year-1, or AUD$210 to $236 ha-1yr-1 across tenure categories. The individual ecosystem services mentioned above ranged from AUD$18.6 to $20.9 million year-1 for biodiversity down to AUD$10.2 to $11.4 million year-1 for aesthetics. The value of individual ecosystem services constrained within a fully intact suite of ecosystem goods and services was found to be consistent with the value of all other uses to which land is put in a bioregion and with other avenues of investment in the economic system, and will increase proportionate to the human population density, and hence scarcity of ecosystem services.
CONCLUSION: The combination of revealed preferences in a surrogate market as the empirical baseline for the whole suite of ecosystem services in a bioregion or Local Government Area, along with the expressed preferences of a group of experts as to the importance of each individual good or service, provides the theoretical and practical justification for the acceptance of the technique as a means of establishing opening prices in a future trading market. Being linked to the value of real property and hence population density in a region, it provides a key insight into the status and thus value of ecosystems services provided by public and private land, including scarcity. The most critical recommendation to policy and decision-makers emanating from this research is the requirement that environmental impacts arising from development projects, policies or proposals be properly identified, the magnitude of the impact properly assessed, and mitigation of the impacts strictly enforced. The same applies for environmental pollution, damage and degradation with legal liability apparent. Legislation is required to be enacted which will lead to the need for rigorous environmental valuation procedures that have empirical verification and will stand scrutiny in a court of law. The technique expounded in this thesis is such a procedure.
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Curtis, Ian Arthur. "Valuing ecosystem services in a green economy /." James Cook University, 2003. http://eprints.jcu.edu.au/76.
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Elderbrock, Evan. "Revealing Promising Pathways for Increasing Urban Ecosystem Services: An Approach Combining Stakeholder Priorities with Ecosystem Service Quantification." Thesis, University of Oregon, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/1794/24232.
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Urban development diminishes the delivery of ecosystem services (ES), defined as benefits from ecological processes and functions critical to human health and well-being. Land-use planners and environmental managers are increasingly familiar with the concept of ES; however, methods for incorporating ES into urban planning are underdeveloped. While previous reports have identified the combination of ES quantification and stakeholder engagement as necessary for increasing the delivery of ES, methods of implementation remain unexplored. To address this disparity, this study combines ES quantification with perspectives from multiple stakeholders to identify specific land cover conversion scenarios that increase the delivery of ES in the Friendly Area Neighborhood of Eugene, Oregon and compares each conversion scenario using an informed weighting system. The result is a method, with potential for use by researchers and public officials, to quantify the delivery of ES, identify stakeholders’ ES priorities, and assess the benefits associated with green infrastructure development.2020-01-11
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Mitchell, Mark E. "Nutrient Cycling Dynamics and Succession in Green Roof Ecosystems." University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin150487303109878.
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Wituszynski, David Michael. "Ecological Structure and Function of Bioretention Cells." The Ohio State University, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1595534267621241.
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Le, Gouvello Du Timat Diane Zelica Marie. "The effects of turtle-introduced nutrients on beach ecosystems." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/6959.
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Resource subsidies are flows of nutrients from one ecosystem to another. Sandy beach ecosystems are at the interface between land and sea and thus receive nutrients from both land/seascapes. The seasonal nesting of sea turtles introduces large inputs of eggs, and so nutrients, onto sandy beach ecosystems, but little is known about the effects of these spatially and temporally variable nutrient input pulses on the dynamics of consumers in the recipient system. In this study, I examined the ecological role of sea turtles as vectors of nutrients that introduce large amounts of nutrients (in the form of eggs) from distant foraging grounds into nutrient-poor beach ecosystems. Although some of the nutrients return to the sea in the form of hatchlings, nutrients from unhatched and depredated eggs, dead and predated hatchlings, as well as chorioallantoic fluid and egg shells remain on the beach and presumably enter sandy beach food webs. I hypothesized that turtle nutrients significantly increase the availability of nutrients to sandy beach ecosystems and that those nutrients are incorporated by both terrestrial and marine food webs. These hypotheses were tested by comparing isotopic signatures of 13C and 15N of consumers on beaches with high and low turtle nest densities. The response of meiofauna to the decomposition of turtle eggs was also investigated. I predicted that meiofaunal abundance is positively affected by turtle nutrients and that higher meiofaunal abundances will be obtained in decomposing, depredated nests. I tested this hypothesis by comparing meiofaunal abundance in naturally predated nests to densities away from turtle nests (as a control). An in situ experiment that mimics conditions of naturally predated sea turtle nest, was set up to test meiofaunal community responses to turtle nutrients over time. The study indicates that sea turtle eggs represent a short pulsed resource subsidy that increases the nutrient and energy budget of sandy beach ecosystems. The results show that of the five potential nutrient pathways tested, ghost crabs appear to consume egg nutrients in measurable quantities, altering their diet and feeding behaviour according to food availability. The study also showed that there was a strong, but short-lived positive response of meiofauna to the introduction of nutrients, with increased abundance of all taxa in predated nests and experimental treatments. This response was particularly strong for nematodes which peaked in abundance after seven days. I conclude that turtle-derived nutrients represent a pulsed resource subsidy that makes significant contribution to the energy budget of sandy beach/dune ecosystems.
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Lundh, Johan. "Indicators for ecosystem services in urban green space management." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Institutionen för geovetenskaper, 2017. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-326806.
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Urban green spaces are put under high pressure due to increasing population density in cities. This problem will potentially accelerate where the densification in the cities continues. Consequently, this sets high requirements on the management, if the green spaces are to generate the benefits and values that are associated with greens spaces as urban parks. One way to increase these benefits and values could be to incorporate ecosystem services and indicators for ecosystem services in a multi-stakeholder management system. Is it possible that ecosystem service indicators could facilitate collaboration between stakeholders and thus improve the value of urban green space? This master thesis aimed to identify ecosystem service indicators for a green space and incorporate them in a multi-stakeholder management system. The study was made to clarify if indicators can facilitate collaboration between stakeholders and thus improve the management of an urban green space. In order to achieve that, the first step was to let the stakeholders express what they desired the green space to generate in terms of benefits and values. These expressed benefits and values were formulated into target variables which were linked with the ecosystem services that the green space was assessed to generate if the target variables are achieved. A literature study was conducted to identify applicable indicators for the chosen ecosystem services. These indicators were quantified and incorporated into an already existing management system. This management system performed as a framework and a fundament which was further developed to incorporate more functions as indicators and ecosystem services. The thesis resulted in two identified indicators for ten ecosystem services and the development of a multi-stakeholder management system. Identified indicators were birds and compliant seating. Birds were identified as an indicator because they indicated many of the same ecosystem services as the ones that are generated in the green space. These ecosystem services are linked with the benefits and values that are associated with the target variables. In addition, the birds were chosen because they were possible to quantify. Compliant seating was the second indicator, and it has the potential to function as a control indicator as it can be seen as a manifestation of the cultural ecosystem services generated at the green space. A multi-stakeholder management system was developed with the incorporation of indicators for ecosystem services. The developed management system aimed to facilitate the collaboration between stakeholders with the use of ecosystem service indicators. Taken together, the findings suggest a role for ecosystem service indicators in multi-stakeholder management plans to improve the value of green spaces.Grönytor i städer är satt under hög press på grund av ökande befolkningstäthet vilket leder till att fler människor behöver dela på samma mängd urban grönyta. Detta fenomen ökar kraven på förvaltningen av grönytor då de behöver generera fler nyttigheter och mera värde. Ett sätt att öka dessa värden skulle kunna vara att använda sig av indikatorer för ekosystemtjänster inom ett förvaltningssystem där flera förvaltare verkar. Är det möjligt att indikatorer för ekosystemtjänster kan underlätta samarbetet mellan olika förvaltare och därigenom öka värdet av en grönyta? Den här masteruppsatsen hade målet att identifiera indikatorer för ekosystemtjänster genererade av en grönyta och sedan inkorporera dem i en förvaltningsmetod som ökar samverkan mellan förvaltare. Studien syftade till att tydliggöra om användandet av ekosystemtjänstindikatorer kan underlätta samarbetet av mellan olika förvaltare för att förbättra förvaltningen av en grönyta. Det första steget för att åstadkomma detta var att låta förvaltarna uttrycka vilka värden och nyttigheter de vill att grönytan skulle skapa. Dessa värden och nyttigheter formulerades som målvariabler vilka länkades till de ekosystemtjänster som grönytan bedömdes generera. Genom en litteraturstudie identifierades indikatorer som kunde indikera de ekosystemtjänster som genererades vid grönytan. Indikatorerna kvantifierades och inkorporerades in i ett redan existerande förvaltningssystem. Studien resulterade i två identifierade indikatorer och i utvecklandet av ett förvaltningssystem som underlättar samverkan genom användandet av indikatorer. Fåglar identifierade som en indikator på grund av att fåglar indikerade samma ekosystemtjänster som genereras på grönytan. Fåglar valdes också för att det var möjligt att kvantifiera fåglarna vid grönytan. Villkorlig sittplats var den andra indikatorn och den har möjligheten att fungera som en kontrollindikator eftersom den kan beskrivas som en manifestation av de ekosystemtjänster som genereras på grönytan. Sedan så utvecklas även ett förvaltningssystem där indikatorerna inkorporerades. Förvaltningssystemet hade målet att underlätta samverkan mellan de olika förvaltarna med hjälp av indikatorerna. Sammanfattningsvis så bedöms det att indikatorer för ekosystemtjänster har potentialen att användas i ett förvaltningssystem och därigenom kunna bidra till att öka värdet av grönytan.
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Langemeyer, Johannes. "Urban ecosystem cervices. The value of green spaces in cities." Doctoral thesis, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10803/327016.
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En un mundo cada vez más urbanizado, el papel de los espacios verdes en las ciudades se destaca cada vez más por su capacidad para proporcionar servicios de los ecosistemas. Sin embargo, el valor de los espacios verdes urbanos todavía está ampliamente pasado por alto. Esta tesis investiga la multifuncionalidad y la multiplicidad de valores asociados a los espacios verdes urbanos en el marco del apoyo a las decisiones en las policticas de planeamineto y en la gobernanza urbana. En primer lugar, investigamos a través de una revisión de la literatura el carácter multifuncional de los espacios verdes urbanos y los beneficios que generan para los humanos mediante la provisión de servicios de los ecosistemas. En segundo lugar, el pluralismo de valores asociados a los servicios de los ecosistemas urbanos se examina a través de casos de estudio de los espacios verdes urbanos en Barcelona, España. En estos casos de estudio, las percepciones aociadas a distintos tipos de valor son examinadas mediante una combinación de métodos, incluyendo teledetección, observaciones participativas, entrevistas, encuestas, análisis estadísticos y sistemas de información geográfica. Por último, mediante una revisión del conocimiento existente sobre análisis multicriterio para la toma de decisiones, se exploran las vías para desarrollar una valoración integrada de los servicios de los ecosistemas en el marco de la planificación urbana. La tesis muestra el carácter multifuncional de los espacios verdes urbanos mediante la generación de servicios y resalta su importancia específica para la provisión de servicios de los ecosistemas culturales. Adoptando la perspectiva del pluralismo de valores en relación a los servicios de los ecosistemas proporcionados por los espacios verdes urbanos, los datos obtenidos demuestran que la percepción de valores divergentes está determinada principalmente por las características del “valorador”, el contexto social e institucional, así como por los diferentes lenguajes de valoración adoptados. Laperspectiva del pluralismo de valores, tal como se demuestra en esta tesis, subraya la necesidad de una valoración integrada de los servicios de los ecosistemas para informar la toma de decisiones y la gobernanza. La tesis destaca el análisis multicriterio como una herramienta con gran potencial para facilitar la valoración integrada de los serviciso de los ecosistemas en el contexto de la planificación y la gobernanza urbana. Mediante la aplicación de métodos que ponen de relieve el valor de los servicios de los ecosistemas para el binestar humano, esta tesis pretende ofrecer herramientas para informar políticas que permitan avanzar hacia ciudades más sostenibles y resilientes que reconozcan la dependencia de las ciudades de ecosistemas saludables para asegurar la calidad de vida.In an increasingly urbanizing world, the role of green spaces in cities is increasingly highlighted for their capacity to provide ecosystem services for human well-being. Yet, the value of urban green spaces is still widely overlooked in urban policy and planning. This dissertation examines the evidence base for the multi-functionality and values of urban green spaces, in the context of decision support and for priority setting in urban policy and governance. First, the multi-functional character of urban green spaces and the many benefits they provide to humans through the delivery of ecosystem services is studied through a literature review. Secondly, the pluralism of values is examined through case studies from urban green spaces in Barcelona, Spain. Within these case studies, value perceptions, value emergence and value dimensions are scrutinized by combining different methods, including remote sensing, participatory observations, interviews, surveys, statistical analysis and geographical information systems. Finally, pathways for an integrated valuation of ecosystem services in urban planning are explored through a review of state-of-the-art knowledge on multi-criteria decision analysis applied in relation to ecosystem services. The dissertation shows the multi-functional character of urban green spaces and outlines their specific importance for the provision of cultural ecosystem services. It contributes to operationalize the perspective of value pluralism in the assessment of ecosystem services from urban green spaces. It is noted that the perception of diverging values is mainly determined by the characteristics of the ‘valuator’, the socio-institutional context, as well as different valuation languages through which values are assessed. The perspective of value pluralism endorsed in this thesis, underlines the need for an integrated valuation of ecosystem services to inform decision-making and governance. The thesis examines the potential of multi-criteria decision analysis as a tool to facilitate such integrated valuation of ecosystem services, in the context of urban planning. By putting forward the value of ecosystem services for humans, the thesis intents to provide a cornerstone for policies towards more sustainable and resilient cities that recognize the interconnection and dependency of cities on healthy ecosystems worldwide.
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Narvaez, Diaz Carla. "Green urchin demography in a subartic ecosystem : patterns and processes." Doctoral thesis, Université Laval, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11794/33303.
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Dans les environnements littoraux de l’Atlantique Nord, les densités importantes d’oursin vert Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis ont entraîné la décimation des laminaires et l’apparition de grandes étendues dénudées où la biodiversité et les services écosystémiques sont fortement limités. Par contre, l’oursin vert a une grande valeur commerciale et son élevage en aquaculture représente une activité pour laquelle un intérêt grandissant est observé. Toutefois, il s’agit malheureusement d’une pêcherie ayant une évolution temporelle en dents de scie. Une gestion appropriée des populations d’oursins pourrait aider à atteindre un meilleur équilibre entre l’abondance de cette espèce et les laminaires. Ainsi, les laminaires pourraient recoloniser les zones d’où elles ont été complètement broutées par les oursins, ce qui améliorerait la qualité des oursins favorisant leur exportation. La présente thèse rassemble de l’information relative aux interactions écologiques et aux facteurs environnementaux déterminants la démographie des oursins à différentes échelles spatiales dans l’Estuaire et le Golfe du Saint-Laurent (EGSL, Canada). Dans l’EGSL, il n'y a aucun des mécanismes usuels de contrôle des populations d’oursins (prédation, mortalité en masse et pêche). Il en résulte que les oursins dominent les régions infra littorales depuis des décennies. Un inventaire extensif décrivant la structure des populations (c.-à-d., fréquences de la taille, abondance et biomasse) à plusieurs échelles spatiales (c.-à-d., profondeur, site) a montré une importante variabilité spatiale. La densité et la biomasse mesurées dans l’EGSL sont parmi les plus importantes rapportées pour cette espèce. De plus, les laminaires sont limitées aux sites exposés et peu profonds. Une étude faite en mésocosme sur le terrain couplée à une expérience comportementale a montré que la compétition intraspécifique déterminée par la taille joue un rôle important sur la structure des populations via la réduction du taux de croissance et de la production de gonades chez les petits individus, ainsi que sur leur comportement d’approvisionnement. Un changement ontogénique intéressant a été observé quant à l’importance relative du type de compétition, qui passe d’une combinaison d’interférence et d’exploitation chez les petits oursins à une compétition par exploitation seulement chez les oursins de taille moyenne. Finalement, nous avons évalué l’exactitude de la technique de sclérochronologie consistant à estimer l’âge des oursins à partir du compte des bandes de croissance observables sur leur squelette. Des expériences en laboratoire ont démontré qu’en plus d’une importante variabilité dans la déposition des bandes entre les différents composants du squelette, plusieurs facteurs de stress environnementaux (p. ex., apport alimentaire limité, périodes d’hyposalinité, température de l’eau) peuvent induire la déposition de bandes de croissance additionnelles. De plus, une revue de littérature a montré que malgré son utilisation fréquente, seule la moitié des études ayant eu recours à cette technique ont tenté de valider les prémisses sur lesquelles celle-ci est basée. Une analyse plus approfondie de la méthodologie de ces études révèle également que lorsque présentes, les études de validation étaient inadéquates. Ainsi, la sclérochronologie chez les oursins ne devrait pas être utilisée pour déterminer l’âge des individus sans qu’avant une méthode permettant de générer une estimation répétable, exacte et précise, à partir des bandes de croissance, ne soit élaborée. L’information récoltée dans le cadre des études démographiques a des applications écologiques importantes et permet d’améliorer les prédictions des modèles de dynamique des populations dans un monde en changement constant. Cette thèse fait avancer notre compréhension des caractéristiques individuelles intrinsèques, les interactions écologiques et les facteurs environnementaux associés à L’EGSL qui déterminent les processus (c.-à-d., taux de croissance des populations, mortalité) et les caractéristiques (c.-à-d., abondance, âge) démographiques chez l’oursin.In North Atlantic nearshore environments, high densities of the green urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis have led to the decimation of kelp beds and created extensive barren grounds with reduced biodiversity and ecosystem services. However, green urchins have a high commercial value, and there is a growing interest in aquaculture farming, but unfortunately, their extraction is a classic example of a boom - and - bust fishery. Correct management of urchin populations could thus help create a better equilibrium bet ween urchin populations and kelp beds, allowing the kelp to re-colonize places where it has been completely grazed by urchins and increasing the quality of urchins for export. This thesis collects information about the underlying ecological interactions and environmental factors that affect urchin demography at different spatial scales in the Saint Lawrence Estuary and Gulf (SLEG, Canada). In the SLEG there is no control of urchin populations by the usual means (i.e., predation, mass mortality and harvest), so subtidal environments have been dominated by urchin barrens for decades. An extensive survey across different spatial scales (i.e., region, depth, and site) revealed high variability in urchin population structure (i.e., size - frequency, abundance, and biomass). Density and biomass were among the highest recorded for this species, and kelp beds were limited to exposed shallow sites. Field-based mesocosm and behavioural experiments showed that size-asymmetric intraspecific competition may have an important role in structuring these populations by reducing the growth rate and gonad production of small urchins, as well as affecting their foraging behaviour. Interestingly, there is an ontogenetic change in the relative importance of the type of competition (i.e., interference and exploitative) as it moves from interference and exploitative in small urchins to only exploitative in medium urchins. Finally, we evaluated the accuracy of sclerochronology, a technique used to estimate urchin age that involves counting skeletal growth bands. Under laboratory conditions, several environmental stressors (e.g., food limitation, low salinity periods, water temperature) can induce the deposition of additional growth bands, and band deposition varies among different skeletal components. Moreover, a literature review showed that despite the common use of sclerochronology, only half of the studies that have used it have attempted to validate its basic assumptions, and of those, the methodology used for the validation attempts were judged inadequate for most studies. Thus, sclerochronology should not be used for aging urchins until it provides consistently accurate and precise interpretations of growth bands. Information collected in population demography studies has an important role in informing ecological applications and improving predictions of urchin population dynamics in a constantly changing world. This thesis greatly furthers our understanding of how individual intrinsic characteristics, ecological interactions and environmental factors interact in the SLEG to shape urchin population demographic processes (i.e., growth rates, mortality) and characteristics (i.e., abundance, age).
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Langemeyer, Johannes. "Urban Ecosystem Services : The Value of Green Spaces in Cities." Doctoral thesis, Stockholms universitet, Stockholm Resilience Centre, 2015. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:su:diva-122407.
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In an ever more urban world, the role of green spaces in cities is increasingly highlighted for their capacity to provide ecosystem services for human well-being. Yet, the value of urban green spaces is still widely overlooked in urban policy and planning. This dissertation examines the evidence base for the multi-functionality and values of urban green spaces, in the context of decision support and for priority setting in urban policy and governance. First, the multi-functional character of urban green spaces and the many benefits they provide to humans through the delivery of ecosystem services is studied through a literature review. Secondly, the pluralism of values is examined through case studies from urban green spaces in Barcelona, Spain. Within these case studies, value perceptions, value emergence and value dimensions are scrutinized by combining different methods, including remote sensing, participatory observations, interviews, surveys, statistical analysis and geographical information systems. Finally, pathways for an integrated valuation of ecosystem services in urban planning are explored through a review of state-of-the-art knowledge on multi-criteria decision analysis applied in relation to ecosystem services. The dissertation shows the multi-functional character of urban green spaces and outlines their specific importance for the provision of cultural ecosystem services. It contributes to operationalize the perspective of value pluralism in the assessment of ecosystem services from urban green spaces. It is noted that the perception of diverging values is mainly determined by the characteristics of the ‘valuator’, the socio-institutional context, as well as different valuation languages through which values are assessed. The perspective of value pluralism endorsed in this thesis, underlines the need for an integrated valuation of ecosystem services to inform decision-making and governance. The thesis examines the potential of multi-criteria decision analysis as a tool to facilitate such integrated valuation of ecosystem services, in the context of urban planning. By putting forward the value of ecosystem services for humans, the thesis intents to provide a cornerstone for policies towards more sustainable and resilient cities that recognize the interconnection and dependency of cities on healthy ecosystems worldwide.
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Nordheim-Shelt, Barbara Ann. "Effects of Anthropogenic Activity on the Green Swamp Preserve Ecosystem." Scholar Commons, 2017. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/6734.
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The Green Swamp Preserve is a large geographic area that has sustained many changes since Europeans settled in Florida. There has been little published research on the impacts of anthropogenic activity on this system. This thesis research seeks to document more recent changes in the Green Swamp and to evaluate the effects of various human activities on the system. The study period is from 1985 to 2015. For this time period changes in land use and landcover were examined using neural network classifications. Changes in vegetation health were evaluated by examining Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Green Vegetation Index differences. Field site visits were made to document current conditions at thirty sample locations within the study area. Changes in land use and landcover and vegetation health were evaluated in relation to anthropogenic activities such as proximity to pollution sources, conservation lands and restoration sites. Statistical analysis was conducted to determine if statistically significant clustering occurred in these changes and if present geographically weighted regressions were performed to determine if a significant spatial relationship existed between the clustering and the various human activities. WAP data showed an overall decline in wetland health at the assessment sites and showed a trend of lower wetland health at sites within 2 Km of pollution sources, specifically petroleum tank contamination sites and state roads. The statistically significant clustering identified in land use landcover changes from 1985 to 2015 were in relation to changes from field, forested and wetland landcover types to built environments. Spatial relationships were identified between the proximity of petroleum tank contamination sites, state roads and solid waste facilities and clustering of NDVI decreases from 1985 to 2015. NDVI increases in the study area from 1985 to 2015 also showed statistically significant clustering in relation to conservation lands and lands purchased by the Southwest Florida Water Management District for environmental protection. These preliminary findings suggest that human activities may have influenced changes in the health of the Green Swamp. Further, more extensive research is suggested to confirm these findings.
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Kirkpatrick, Erin Jolene. "Green Mind Gray Yard: Micro Scale Assessment of Ecosystem Services." PDXScholar, 2013. https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds/884.
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There is a spatial mismatch between the size of the area where people are living and the extent of land needed to ecologically support developed areas. More people are living in urban areas than any time in history, and the resources need to support cities have had to expand to try and meet the demands of increasing urban populations. However, areas of opportunity exist for urban areas to begin to positively contribute towards the available resources in a region. Because a large portion of urban areas is within private control, gaining a baseline understanding of how residents interact with ecosystem services served as basis of this study. Using a survey of residents in the Portland, OR area, correlations between demographic groups and questions regarding their beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors as they relate to vegetation proved that the knowledge of environmental relationships is an important first step in creating pro-environmental behavior. Those reporting a high level of knowledge for ecological system and processes were more likely to value the benefits of vegetation for other associated reasons, such as for recreational activities, aesthetic purposes, and air or water quality. Additionally, survey responses were mapped to spatial data to gain an understanding of the spatial characteristics of neighborhoods in the survey area and how they have changed over time. Overall, the results in the study display trends that can help outreach organizations and municipalities to determine plans to strategically engage the public in a way that could create a net gain in urban ecosystem services.
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Ngulani, Thembelihle Tshandapiwa. "Assessing selected ecosystem services in urban green spaces in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/5856.
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Urbanization has resulted in the building of numerous structures such as buildings and roads which reduces the amount of natural land. Urban space planning has taken this into consideration resulting in planned urban green spaces and remnant land within urban areas. Urban green spaces provide a number of ecosystem services which are beneficial to urban residents. This study sought to determine residents’ use and perception of urban green spaces in Bulawayo, the second largest city in Zimbabwe, and to quantify and value four selected ecosystem services, i.e. carbon sequestration by urban trees, urban heat island amelioration, spiritual services and firewood provision. All ecosystem services were valued using local a variety of direct or substitutive methods. Questionnaires were administered at green spaces to green space users to capture responses on reasons why they use green spaces and their perception of green spaces. Residents’ responses showed that they appreciate green spaces as multidimensional spaces which provide a number of benefits for cultural and provisioning services. The role of the green spaces in providing regulating services was not well appreciated by the residents as they did not directly experience these benefits. An association was revealed between primary purpose of visit to urban green spaces and household income. Residents in areas of medium and high density housing visited green spaces on a daily basis, whereas those in more affluent, low density housing areas visited green spaces less often, i.e. a few times a month Carbon sequestration rate was determined by measuring tree diameter within one year to determine increase in carbon sequestered. Bulawayo’s urban green spaces sequester 3 290 t/C/yr valued at approximately $13 000/yr. There was a significant difference in carbon sequestration by urban trees between formal and informal green spaces with formal green spaces sequestering more carbon. Indigenous trees were shown to sequester more carbon than exotic trees and trees with bigger stem diameter were determined sequester more carbon than trees with small diameter. The effect of urban green spaces on ambient temperature was determined by measuring ambient air temperature in green spaces and built up areas over six months. Urban green spaces in Bulawayo play a role in urban micro-climate regulation by reducing the ambient temperature in the green spaces as well as is built up areas. The mean difference between green spaces and surrounding urban areas was up to 60C, with larger green spaces generally showing larger differences. The green spaces extend their cooling effect to surrounding areas thus reducing the temperatures in surrounding residential areas thus reducing the energy demand used for indoor cooling. To determine why residents worship in green spaces, questionnaires were administered to congregation members to capture reasons why and how often they worship in green spaces, challenges faced by the congregants as well as assistance that can be given by the Bulawayo city council to improve the outdoor worship experience. Green spaces offer ideal places for worship in natural areas for congregants to be in touch with nature. The green spaces are also used by some congregations who ordinarily would worship in buildings but fail to do so due to lack of funds for rent or to purchase or construct a church building to use. The value of Bulawayo’s green spaces spiritual services was determined to be $92.50/ha/yr. Firewood provision was also determined by measuring tree diameter within one year to determine increase in fuelwood. The green spaces showed a significant difference in firewood production among sites. Formal green spaces were shown to produce more firewood as compared to informal green spaces and no difference was determined in growth rates between exotic and indigenous tree species. Bulawayo’s green spaces produce 1.9t/ha/yr of firewood with an ecosystem service value of $340 to $490 /ha/yr. These findings indicate the importance of urban green spaces in Bulawayo. They are multifunctional spaces, providing multiple ecosystem services. The local appreciation of the services provided by urban green spaces differs according to the type of service and location in the city. The value of services provided by green spaces is high, albeit not taken into account in planning decisions.
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Coldwell, Deborah F. "Cultural ecosystem service delivery from green-space : impacts of urbanisation, green-space visits & landscape-scale restoration." Thesis, University of Sheffield, 2017. http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/17309/.
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Lopez, Antonio R. "Greening the Media Literacy Ecosystem| Situating Media Literacy for Green Cultural Citizenship." Thesis, Prescott College, 2013. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=3587572.
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Media literacy is touted as a necessary life skill for cultural citizenship, yet as it is generally practiced there is little engagement with sustainability issues. In order to gain insights into why this is the case, this research investigated how media literacy practitioners use metaphors to frame both the role of media education in the world and how it affects green cultural citizenship. This involved analyzing web site documents and teacher resources of seven North American media literacy organizations as well as interviewing nine key practitioners within a bounded system called the media literacy ecosystem. Drawing on an ecocritical framework, I analyzed the discourses of the media literacy ecosystem by using multi-site situational analysis, qualitative media analysis and critical discourse analysis. This research explored how media literacy practitioners participate in meaning-making systems that reproduce pre-existing environmental ideologies. The findings show that media literacy education is grounded in a mechanistic worldview, thereby perpetuating unsustainable cultural practices in education. By problematizing the mechanistic discourses of media literacy education, the aim of this research was to raise awareness and to offer potential solutions for changing the nature of those same discourses. As such, I theorized a model of media literacy that incorporates green cultural citizenship, called ecomedia literacy, and outlined a path forward so that sustainability becomes a priority for media literacy educators.
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Anderzon, Sofia. "A valuation of ecosystem services from blue-green infrastructure for stormwater management." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Institutionen för geovetenskaper, 2021. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-446070.
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The ongoing urbanization leads to densification and growth of cities, which replaces natural areas with hard surfaces. Precipitation is then more likely to runoff as stormwater than to be detained locally. Also, precipitation is predicted to be increasing as an effect of climate change. Traditionally, stormwater has been handled by draining it in underground pipes. As a complement, blue-green infrastructure (BGI) can be used to take care of the increased amount of stormwater. BGI is vegetation and water-based systems that intend to restore the natural flows of water. It does, however, not only provide services for stormwater management but also other services that contribute to human welfare. These are provided for free by nature and are called ecosystem services. By illustrating the value of ecosystem services, the motivation of implementing more BGI can increase. The aim of this project was to provide guidance on how to value ecosystem services that BGI can provide at a district level. The valuation was to be semi-quantitative with the grades 1-5. To do so, ecosystem services were identified and given indicators that could illustrate the extent of the ecosystem services’ presence. Seven different BGI for stormwater management were studied, to determine which added values they can bring into urban settings. The BGI were green roofs, trees, rain gardens, swales, detention basin, detention ponds and attenuation storage tanks. Nine ecosystem services provided by these BGI were then identified. These were flood protection, water treatment, local climate regulation, air quality control, environmental noise control, erosion prevention, recreation, social relations and biodiversity. Indicators were identified for each ecosystem service through a literature study. It was noted that to value the ecosystem service, it was not enough to only value the presence of the indicators but also necessary to estimate the demand or need for the ecosystem service. Therefore, questions were formed that could help determine the demand for the ecosystem service. The valuation was then based on how well the presence of the ecosystem service corresponded to the demand of it. After using this valuation method on a case study, it was concluded that this type of valuation is useful for reconstruction projects in an early stage, to illustrate what functions and demands that need to be considered to obtain more ecosystem services. It can then be used for comparison of different proposals, to see which one provides the most ecosystem services. The valuation is conceptual rather than specific. It is useful as it can include any type of ecosystem service but lacks the perspective of costs.Den pågående urbaniseringen leder till en ökad utbredning och förtätning av städer, vilket innebär att grönytor byts ut mot hårdgjorda. Detta leder till att nederbörd inte omhändertas lokalt utan avrinner istället på de hårdgjorda ytorna som dagvatten. Dessutom förutsägs nederbörden att öka i och med klimatförändringar, vilket ökar mängden dagvatten ytterligare. Traditionellt har dagvatten hanterats genom att avledas i ledningar under mark. Som ett möjligt komplement till denna infrastruktur finns blågrön infrastruktur (BGI). BGI är vegetations- och vattenbaserade system som avser att efterlikna det naturliga flödet av vatten för att minska översvämningsrisken men ger fler nyttor än så. Dessa nyttor benämns ekosystemtjänster. De ökar människors välbefinnande och förses av naturen gratis. Genom att synliggöra värdet av ekosystemtjänster kan motivation till att implementera BGI öka. Syftet med detta projekt var att sammanställa ett beslutsstöd för hur en värdering av ekosystemtjänster från BGI på stadsdelnivå kan gå till. Värderingen skulle vara semi-kvantitativ med en skala 1-5. För att möjliggöra detta identifierades först ekosystemtjänster som sedan tilldelades indikatorer som belyser i vilken utsträckning respektive ekosystemtjänst förekommer. Sju olika blågröna dagvattenlösningar studerades för att avgöra vilka mervärden i form av ekosystemtjänster dessa kan tillföra urbana miljöer. Dessa dagvattensystem var gröna tak, träd, växtbäddar, svackdiken, översvämningsytor, dagvattendammar och fördröjningsmagasin. Nio ekosystemtjänster identifierades kunna uppkomma av dessa blågröna lösningar. Dessa var översvämningsskydd, vattenrening, lokalklimatsreglering, luftrening, bullerreducering, erosionskontroll, rekreation, sociala relationer och biologisk mångfald. För att värdera i vilken utsträckning funktionerna hos ekosystemtjänsterna fanns närvarande togs indikationer fram genom en litteraturstudie. Det ansågs däremot att det inte räckte att enbart värdera förekomsten av ekosystemtjänsten för att bestämma dess värde, utan det var även nödvändigt att studera behovet av dem. Därmed inkluderades frågor som skulle besvara behovet av ekosystemtjänsterna. Värderingen av ekosystemtjänsten baserades då på hur väl förekomsten av ekosystemtjänsten svarade mot behovet. Efter att denna värdering använts på en fallstudie kunde det konstateras att denna typ av värdering är användbar i ett tidigare skede av ombyggnadsprojekt, för att belysa vilka funktioner och behov som behöver tas i beaktande för att erhålla olika ekosystemtjänster. Den kan även användas vid jämförelse av olika förslag, för att visa på vilket förslag som bidrar med mest ekosystemtjänster. Värderingen är konceptuell snarare än specifik och har fördelen att alla ekosystemtjänster kan värderas men belyser enbart nyttor och inte kostnader.
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Verduras, Dietl Monica. "Green spaces in cities? : Analysis and comparison of green spaces in Stockholm and Madrid." Thesis, Stockholms universitet, Kulturgeografiska institutionen, 2017. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:su:diva-143842.
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The presence of green spaces in cities has been increasingduring recent years. The aim of this thesis is to understand the importance of these areas in the city through the ecosystem services approach, and to provide an example on how that approach is undertaken in two different European cities: Madrid and Stockholm. By using Geographic Information Systems, interviews with planning representatives in both countries, and planning documents, it was found that even though this approach is known and mentioned in both cases, the outcome in the distribution and accessibility of these areas varies widely from one study area to another.
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Zou, Kejun. "Effects of interactions between the green and brown food webs on ecosystem functioning." Thesis, Paris 6, 2016. http://www.theses.fr/2016PA066266/document.
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Cette thèse étudie par trois modèles et une expérience les effets des interactions entre le réseau vert (basé sur la production primaire) et brun (basé sur la décomposition) sur le fonctionnement des écosystèmes. Trois interactions entre les deux réseaux sont étudiées: 1) les nutriments recyclés par tous les organismes couplent les réseaux verts et bruns par une relation de mutualisme/compétition entre les producteurs primaires et les décomposeurs; 2) les consommateurs généralistes se nourrissent de proies des deux réseaux trophiques et 3) les connexions spatiales par les consommateurs généralistes mobiles en haut des réseaux trophiques et les flux de nutriments et de détritus en bas. Les résultats montrent que ces interactions peuvent affecter le fonctionnement des écosystèmes y compris les cascades trophiques, la stabilité et l'importance relative de la chaîne verte et brune. Ces résultats conduisent à (1) de nouvelles perspectives sur la modélisation du fonctionnement des réseaux trophiques, (2) des prédictions originales, (3) des nouvelles interprétations de résultats empiriques, (4) des idées sur des différences fondamentales de fonctionnement entre types d’écosystèmes, (5) des prédictions sur la réponses des écosystèmes aux changements globauxThis thesis studies through three models and an experiment the important effects of the interactions between the green (based on primary production) and brown (based on decomposition) food webs on ecosystem functioning. Three interactions between the two food webs are studied: 1) nutrients recycled from all organisms in the food web couple the green and brown food webs through mutualistic/competitive interaction between primary producers and decomposers; 2) generalist consumers feed on prey from both food webs; and 3) the spatial connections between the two food webs through mobile generalist consumers at the top and through nutrient and detritus fluxes at the bottom of the food webs. The results show that these interactions may affect the ecosystems functioning including trophic cascades, stability and the relative importance of green and brown food chains. These results lead to new (1) insights on the way to model food webs, (2) predictions on food web functioning, (3) interpretation of empirical results, (4) ideas to compare the functioning of different ecosystem types and (5) predictions on food web responses to global changes
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Artita, Kimberly. "Computer-based decision-support methods for hydrological ecosystem services management." OpenSIUC, 2012. https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/dissertations/530.
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Changing climates, human population growth, and aging infrastructure threaten the availability and quality of one of life's most vital resources, water. Hydrological ecosystem services are goods and benefits derived from freshwater that include flood damage mitigation, water for agricultural and commercial use, swimmable and navigable waters, and healthy aquatic habitats. Using computer algorithms inspired by biological and ecological processes known as evolutionary algorithms and on-site stormwater management practices such structural best management practices (BMPs) and green stormwater infrastructure (GSI), this research aims to maximize hydrological ecosystem services at the watershed-scale in both agricultural and urban environments by integrating these algorithms with the watershed model Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), and the hydraulic model Storm Water Management Model (SWMM). This dissertation first develops an information theoretic approach to global sensitivity analysis for distributed models, demonstrated using SWAT, and later uses the sensitive model parameters in a multi-objective automatic calibration scheme using multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO). Multiple alternative watershed-scale BMP designs (parallel terraces, detention/infiltration ponds, field borders, and grade stabilization structures) that help minimize peak runoff and annual sediment yield were simultaneously identified using SWAT coupled with the species conserving genetic algorithm (SCGA). Finally, using recently developed economic estimates called triple bottom line (TBL) accounting, watershed-scale GSI designs are identified that reduce combined sewer overflow volumes in an urban setting while maximizing the net benefit across social, economic, and environmental categories. Overall, this dissertation research provides useful and relevant computer-based tools for water resources planners and managers interested in maximizing hydrological ecosystem services benefits.
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Kim, Gunwoo. "Reimaging vacant urban land as green infrastructure: Assessing vacant urban land ecosystem services and planning strategies for the City of Roanoke, Virginia." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/73237.
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A typology of urban vacant land was developed using Roanoke, Virginia, as the study area. Because of its industrial past, topography and climate, Roanoke provides a range of vacant land types typical of those in many areas of the Mid-Atlantic, Eastern and Midwestern United States. A comprehensive literature review, field measurements and observations analysis and aerial photo interpretation and ground-truthing methods were utilized to identify and catalog vacant parcels of land and the results were mapped using i-Tree Canopy to identify the following types of urban vacant land: post-industrial (3.34 km2), derelict (4.01 km2), unattended with vegetation (17.3 km2), natural (2.78 km2), and transportation-related (5.01 km2). Unattended with vegetation sites are important resources as the health biodiversity found in natural sites benefits urban populations and they represent the highest plantable space. The redesign of post-industrial sites builds a city's image and transportation-related sites can contribute a green infrastructure network of open spaces. This typological study has significant implications for policy development, and for planners and designers seeking the best use for vacant urban land.
The analysis of Roanoke's urban forest revealed around 210,000 trees on vacant land, a tree cover of 30.6%. These trees store about 107,000 tons of carbon (worth $7.65 million) and remove about 2,300 tons of carbon ($164,000), and about 91 tons of air pollution ($916,000) every year, which is high relative to other land uses. Trees on vacant land are estimated to reduce annual residential energy costs by $211,000 for the city's 97,000 residents and their structural value is estimated at $169 million. The methodology applied to assess ecosystem services in this study can also be used to assess ecosystem services of vacant land in other urban contexts and improve urban forest policies, planning, and the management of vacant land. The study findings support the inclusion of trees on vacant land providing a new vision of vacant urban land as a valuable ecological resource by demonstrating how green infrastructure can be used to enhance ecosystem health and promote a better quality of life for city residents.Ph. D.
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Kang, Katherina A. "Soil Carbon Accumulation in an Urban Ecosystem: Canopy Cover and Management Effects." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2020. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1703418/.
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Black carbon (BC), a stable form of organic carbon (OC), is a byproduct of the incomplete combustion of biomass, biofuels, and fossil fuel. The main objectives of this research are to examine the spatial distribution of OC and BC in urban soil and determine the influence of tree canopy cover and landscape maintenance on soil carbon accumulation. Soil sampling was conducted at 29 sites throughout the City of Denton, Texas, in May 2019. Samples were collected from underneath post oak canopies and in adjacent open areas and were analyzed for total carbon (TC), total organic carbon (TOC), total N (TN), C:N ratio, and BC. Although maintenance levels had no significant effect, TOC was greater underneath trees (5.47%, 5.30 kg/m2) than lawns (3.58%, 4.84 kg/m2) at the surface 0-10 cm. Total nitrogen concentration was also greater underneath trees (0.43%) than lawns (0.31%) at the surface 0-10 cm. Preliminary results for BC were closely correlated to TOC. The lack of difference in C:N ratio between cover types indicates that leaf litter quality may not be the primary driving factor in soil C and N accumulation. Instead, differences in soil properties may be best explained by manual C inputs and greater atmospheric deposition of C and N to soils with tree canopy cover. Identifying patterns and potential drivers of soil OC and BC accumulation is important because soil carbon sequestration not only reduces atmospheric CO2, but also may provide additional pollution mitigation benefits, thereby contributing to a more sustainable urban environment.
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Burkholder, Derek A. "Top Down Control in a Relatively Pristine Seagrass Ecosystem." FIU Digital Commons, 2012. http://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/799.
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The loss of large-bodied herbivores and/or top predators has been associated with large-scale changes in terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems around the world. Understanding the consequences of these declines has been hampered by a lack of studies in relatively pristine systems. To fill this gap, I investigated the dynamics of the relatively pristine seagrass ecosystem of Shark Bay, Australia. I began by examining the seagrass species distributions, stoichiometry, and patterns of nutrient limitation across the whole of Shark Bay. Large areas were N-limited, P-limited, or limited by factors other than nutrients. Phosphorus-limitation was centered in areas of restricted water exchange with the ocean. Nutrient content of seagrasses varied seasonally, but the strength of seasonal responses were species-specific. Using a cafeteria-style experiment, I found that fast-growing seagrass species, which had higher nutrient content experienced higher rates of herbivory than slow-growing species that are dominant in the bay but have low nutrient content. Although removal rates correlated well with nutrient content at a broad scale, within fast-growing species removal rates were not closely tied to N or P content. Using a combination of stable isotope analysis and animal borne video, I found that green turtles (Chelonia mydas) – one of the most abundant large-bodied herbivores in Shark Bay – appear to assimilate little energy from seagrasses at the population level. There was, however, evidence of individual specialization in turtle diets with some individuals foraging largely on seagrasses and others feeding primarily on macroalgae and gelatinous macroplankton. Finally, I used exclusion cages, to examine whether predation-sensitive habitat shifts by megagrazers (green turtles, dugongs) transmitted a behavior-mediated trophic cascade (BMTC) between sharks and seagrasses. In general, data were consistent with predictions of a behavior-mediated trophic cascade. Megaherbivore impacts on seagrasses were large only in the microhabitat where megaherbivores congregate to reduce predation risk. My study highlights the importance of large herbivores in structuring seagrass communities and, more generally, suggests that roving top predators likely are important in structuring communities - and possibly ecosystems - through non-consumptive pathways.
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Shahidullah, AKM. "Community-Based Developmental Entrepreneurship: Linking Microfinance with Ecosystem Services." International Journal of Development and Sustainabilty, 2 (3), 1703-1722, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/1993/31836.
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This research examined whether microfinance-assisted developmental mechanisms can integrate ecological objectives alongside social and economic ones—thus promoting sustainability. The specific focus was to test the ability of microenterprises operated by community-entrepreneurs in supporting local ecosystem services. To this end, the research: elucidated the nature and dynamics of linkages between communities and the local ecosystems with the lens of coupled social-ecological systems, i.e. illustrated ecological modernization of microenterprises in a developing country context; tested how community-based enterprises transform upon application of green microfinance strategy; and then recognized how social learning is promoted through such community-based intervention mechanisms, e.g. microfinance.
The research used case study and participatory approaches. The case study comprised two components: i) a green microfinance program, and ii) communities in a riparian, and a wetland ecosystem in Bangladesh engaged in entrepreneurship. The major tools that the study employed for data collections were: household surveys, participatory land -use surveys, semi-structured interviews, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, multi-stakeholder workshops, field observations, and document reviews.
The research findings reveal that the green microfinance strategy, in the short and medium terms, catalyzes entrepreneurial and social innovations, and combine the embedded economic and social objectives of the classic microfinance with the new ecological objectives towards sustainability. The strategy applied by Microfinance Institution (MFI) and adopted by community enterprises transformed the ventures—helping them to go green and reducing greenhouse gas emission. Besides, the partnerships that occur between non-governmental organization (NGO) and community-based organization (CBO) in the process of implementing developmental programs—result social learning and innovations in the communities.
The research review found grassroots developmental initiatives as an evolving phenomenon over time. With this view, and with its observation through this cross-sectional study, the research proposes a framework entitled ‘community-based developmental enterprise (CBDE)’. The framework proposes community level entrepreneurial ventures, associated NGO-MFIs, CBOs and other development partners to consider ecosystem services and wellbeing components in entrepreneurial design and actions.October 2016
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Consolini, Luca. "Utilizzo dei Carbon Token nella microeconomia: Il progetto “San Marino Low Carbon Ecosystem”." Bachelor's thesis, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, 2021. http://amslaurea.unibo.it/22935/.
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Chen, Yan Wendy. "Assessing the services and value of green spaces in urban ecosystem a case of Guangzhou City /." Click to view the E-thesis via HKUTO, 2006. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record/B36206817.
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Chen, Yan Wendy, and 陳艷. "Assessing the services and value of green spaces in urban ecosystem: a case of Guangzhou City." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2006. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B36206817.
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Kemp, Sarah. "Impact of plant choice and water management on the provision of ecosystem services by green roofs." Thesis, University of Reading, 2018. http://centaur.reading.ac.uk/77714/.
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Green roofs (GRs) can provide multiple ecosystem services (ESs) such as air quality improvement, biodiversity support and climate regulation. The hypothesis was tested that plants with different structural and functional characteristics (canopy size and density, evapotranspiration (ET) rates) differ in the provision of stormwater management and runoff quality improvement. Experiments were conducted comparing the potential of industrial standard GR cover (Sedum) to alternative species with higher ET rates (Heuchera micrantha ‘Obsidian’, Salvia officinalis and Stachys byzantina). High ET was strongly linked to rainfall retention, with Salvia and Stachys providing the greatest overall retention (32% of the total rainfall), although large, dense canopies were also advantageous when antecedent substrate moisture was high, with Sedum retaining 17% compared to 13% with Stachys. Species with high ET rates will require irrigation to maintain plant health and provision of ESs, but strategies for sustainable irrigation of GRs are needed. In this study, crop coefficients of 1.47, 2.98, 2.94 and 1.66 for Heuchera, Salvia, Stachys and Sedum respectively were calculated and used in a simple ET-based model (using the FAO-56 Penman-Monteith equation) that was proposed for scheduling GR irrigation based on plant water use. Greywater as an alternative water source for irrigation was also investigated. Plant health and functioning (and thus provision of ESs) for most species were not affected by greywater irrigation with no negative effects in Stachys and Sedum, but ET rates of Heuchera and Salvia were reduced by 14% and 9% respectively after 6 weeks of greywater irrigation. Species differences were also apparent in improvement of runoff quality after both freshwater and greywater irrigation, with the highest quality runoff from Stachys. Results highlight the importance of appropriate species choice for improving the provision of ESs on GRs, and suggest that the irrigation requirements of these species could be met by using greywater.
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Garneij, Cecilia, and Patricia Johansson. "En kartläggning av ekosystemtjänster kring Södra Munksjön och appliceringen av grönytefaktor i Jönköping." Thesis, Tekniska Högskolan, Högskolan i Jönköping, JTH, Byggnadsteknik och belysningsvetenskap, 2017. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-37267.
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Syfte: Städer behöver grönska, ekosystem och ekosystemtjänster. Grönytefaktor (GYF) är ett verktyg som säkerställer grönska i urbana miljöer. Jönköpings kommun ska som del i sin stadsutveckling av Södra Munksjön inkludera GYF i sin grönstrukturplan. För att utforma en GYF-modell måste man veta platsens förutsättningar och målbilden för staden. Denna studie syftar till att kartlägga de ES som finns i området idag samt vilka som bör skapas, skyddas, stärkas eller rent av skippas i den nya stadsdelen. Vidare studeras även hur den lokala GYF-modellen kan användas i andra områden i Jönköpings kommun. Metod: En kvalitativ studie har genomförts med hjälp av metoderna litteraturstudie, dokumentanalys, observation och intervjuer. Med utgångspunkt i Ekosystemtjänster i stadsplanering - en vägledning framtagen av ℅ city har ekosystemtjänster identifierats. Intervjuer har genomförts med landskapsarkitekter som arbetat med GYF i sammanhang som liknar det Södra Munksjön och Jönköpings kommun står inför. Resultat: Kartläggningen av ekosystemtjänster i Södra Munksjön visar att de flesta tjänsterna på ℅ citys lista kan identifieras och att de kulturella tjänsterna bör premieras i den GYF-modell som ska utformas för området. För att den lokala GYF-modellen ska kunna appliceras på andra områden underlättar det om modellens formuleringar är generella och kompletteras med separat platsspecifik information. För att GYF ska ge bra resultat är dock uttalade och formulerade mål att styra mot den viktigaste faktorn. Konsekvenser: Genom god planering kan en och samma lösning gynna flera ekosystemtjänster samtidigt, vilket rekommenderas i stadsmiljö. Slutsatsen är därför att fokus bör ligga på kulturella ekosystemtjänster och mångfunktionalitet som resulterar i att alla tjänster gynnas. Då GYF är ett nytt verktyg för Jönköping är det av stor vikt att inkludera berörda aktörer och byggherrar i ett tidigt skede. Begränsningar: Den kartläggning av ekosystemtjänster som gjorts i Södra Munksjön har utgått från en geografisk plats och dokument knutna till denna vilket gör att resultatet är begränsat till Södra Munksjön. Av den analys och diskussion som förs gällande hur en GYF-modell kan tas från ett aktuellt område till att appliceras på andra platser kan dock tas vidare av städer som planerar att använda GYF eller vill utveckla en befintlig GYF-modell.Purpose: Cities need greenery, ecosystems and ecosystem services. Green area ratio (GAR) is a tool that ensures greenery in urban environments. As a part of its urban development of the new city area Södra Munksjön the municipality of Jönköping will include GAR in the local plan for green structure. In order to design a GAR model, one must know the conditions of the site and vision of the city. This study aims to map the ecosystem services located in the area today as well as the ecosystem services that can be created, protected, strengthened or skipped in the new city area. Furthermore, it is also investigated how the local GAR model can be used in other areas in Jönköping municipality. Method: A qualitative study has been conducted with the help of literature studies, document analysis, observation and interviews. With starting point in the model of guidance on ecosystem services in city planning from ℅ city ecosystem services has been identified. Interviews have been conducted with landscape architects with experience from working with GAR in a context similar to the one in Jönköping. Findings: The mapping of ecosystem services in the area of Södra Munksjön shows that most services from ℅ city can be identified and that the cultural ecosystem services should be premiered in the GAR model designed for the city area. In order for the local GAR model to be applied in other areas, it's easier if the formulations in the model are general and supplemented with separate site-specific information. However, in order for GAR to produce good results the most important factor is to have stated and well formulated goals to aim for. Implications: Through good planning, one solution can benefit several ecosystem services at the same time, which is recommended in urban environments. Thus the conclusion is that focus should lay on cultural ecosystem services and multi-functionality that result with all services benefiting. Since GAR is a new tool for Jönköping, it is of great importance to include stakeholders and building contractors at an early stage. Limitations: The mapping of ecosystem services made in Södra Munksjön has been based on a geographical location and documents linked to this place, which means that the results are limited to Södra Munksjön. However, the analysis and discussion of how a GAR model can be taken from a current area to be applied elsewhere could be taken on by cities that are planning to use GAR or want to develop an existing GAR model.
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Baró, Francesc. "Urban Green Infrastructure: Modeling and mapping ecosystem services for sustainable planning and management in and around cities." Doctoral thesis, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10803/399173.
Full textAbstract:
En un planeta cada vegada més urbà, moltes ciutats i els seus habitants s'enfronten a múltiples i urgents amenaces dins de les seves fronteres, incloent l'estrès per excés de calor, la contaminació i la creixent desconnexió amb la biosfera. Millorar la sostenibilitat, la resiliència i l'habitabilitat de les àrees urbanes ha de ser per tant un objectiu de importància primordial en l'agenda política, des de les autoritats locals a les globals. L'aplicació del marc de serveis dels ecosistemes, a partir dels conceptes de 'infraestructura verda' i 'solucions basades en la naturalesa', es considera per un creixent nombre de responsables polítics, professionals i científics com el camí a seguir per fer front a molts d'aquests desafiaments urbans. No obstant això, el grau en què la infraestructura verda urbana pot oferir solucions adequades a aquests reptes és rarament considerat en les avaluacions de serveis dels ecosistemes, i per tant la seva potencial contribució és sovint desconeguda per als prenedors de decisions.
Aquesta tesi examina de manera crítica el paper i la contribució de la infraestructura verda per fer front a diversos reptes urbans (amb especial atenció a la contaminació de l'aire, les emissions d'efecte hivernacle, l'estrès per excés de calor i les oportunitats per al lleure a l'aire lliure) a diferents escales territorials. Partint del model de cascada de serveis dels ecosistemes, es proposa i s'aplica un marc operacional a través de quatre capítols d'investigació originals per informar les decisions de planificació i gestió sobre la base de les relacions entre la capacitat de la infraestructura verda per proporcionar serveis dels ecosistemes, la prestació efectiva o l'ús d'aquests serveis (flux), i la quantitat de serveis que demanda la població urbana. La identificació de la demanda insatisfeta, és a dir, el desajust entre el flux de serveis dels ecosistemes i la seva demanda, és un objectiu principal de les avaluacions ja que expressa els límits de la infraestructura verda urbana en relació als reptes considerats. La tesi utilitza i refina una varietat d'enfocaments metodològics per a la modelització i la cartografia de la capacitat, el flux i la demanda de serveis dels ecosistemes urbans (per exemple, les eines ESTIMAP i i-Tree). L'àmbit territorial de la investigació duta a terme dins el marc d'avaluació de la tesi doctoral abasta principalment l'àrea urbana de Barcelona, Espanya, tenint en compte tant l'escala local o de ciutat (municipi de Barcelona) i l'escala metropolitana o regional (regió metropolitana de Barcelona).
Els resultats de la investigació indiquen que la contribució dels serveis ambientals proporcionats per la infraestructura verda urbana per fer front als problemes urbans sovint és limitada (per exemple, el seu impacte sobre la qualitat de l'aire o la mitigació del canvi climàtic és inferior al 3% tenint en compte les emissions totals de carboni i la contaminació de l'aire en tots els estudis de cas) i/o incerta a les escales de ciutat o metropolitana. A més, l'impacte positiu de la infraestructura verda en la qualitat ambiental i el benestar humà es troba generalment limitat per 'perjudicis' ambientals (per exemple, les emissions biogèniques), trade-offs (per exemple, la provisió enfront de la regulació dels serveis) o desajustos espacials entre la provisió i la demanda de serveis (per exemple, les capacitats de purificació de l'aire i de recreació a l'aire lliure de grans blocs d'infraestructura verda metropolitanes estan massa lluny dels llocs de demanda).
Sobre la base d'aquests resultats, s'identifiquen diverses implicacions per a la planificació i gestió urbana/territorial, incloent: (1) la priorització de les polítiques de reducció de la pressions que generen una demanda per determinats serveis dels ecosistemes (per exemple, la purificació de l'aire i la captura de carboni); (2) la combinació d'estratègies de diversitat d'usos en sòl urbà i agrícola per tal d'augmentar la seva resiliència i multifuncionalitat i, al mateix temps, assegurar la conservació de grans àrees periurbanes forestals multifuncionals; (3) el desenvolupament de nous espais verds en els nuclis urbans compactes utilitzant estratègies innovadores (per exemple, cobertes verdes); i (4) la consideració de perjudicis i trade-offs en la planificació i gestió dels serveis dels ecosistemes. Finalment, sostinc que la planificació i gestió de la infraestructura verda urbana requereix un enfocament holístic, tenint en compte tota la gamma de serveis dels ecosistemes potencialment proporcionats pels diferents tipus d'infraestructura verda i les interaccions entre ells, juntament amb les diferents escales espacials a les quals aquests serveis poden ser rellevants per a la resiliència, la sostenibilitat i l'habitabilitat de les zones urbanes. Això exigeix una important coordinació institucional multi-escala i multidisciplinari entre totes les autoritats amb competències en polítiques urbanes i ambientals, així com l'harmonització dels instruments de planificació i gestió en un enfocament de governança a múltiples nivells.In an increasingly urban planet, many cities and their inhabitants are facing multiple pressing threats within their borders, including heat stress, pollution and growing disconnection with the biosphere. Improving sustainability, resilience and livability in urban areas should be thus a major goal on the policy agenda, from local to global authorities. The operationalization of the ecosystem services framework, building on the concepts of ‘green infrastructure’ and ‘nature-based solutions’, is claimed by a mounting number of policy-makers, practitioners and scientists as the way forward to address many of these urban challenges. However, the extent to which urban green infrastructure can offer relevant solutions to these challenges is rarely considered in ecosystem service assessments, and therefore unknown to decision-makers. This dissertation critically examines the role and contribution of green infrastructure to cope with diverse urban challenges (with a focus on air pollution, greenhouse emissions, heat stress and opportunities for outdoor recreation) at different spatial scales. Building on the ecosystem services cascade model, an operational framework is proposed and applied across four original research chapters to inform planning and management decisions on the basis of the relationships between the green infrastructure’s capacity to deliver ecosystem services, the actual provision or use of these services (flow), and the amount of services demanded by the urban population. Identification of unsatisfied demand, i.e., the mismatch between ecosystem service flow and demand, is a main focus of the assessments since it expresses the limits of urban green infrastructure in relation to the considered challenges. The dissertation uses and refines a variety of methodological approaches for modeling and mapping the capacity, flow and demand of urban ecosystem services (e.g., i-Tree and ESTIMAP tools). The spatial scope of the research carried out within the assessment framework of this dissertation principally encompasses the urban area of Barcelona, Spain, considering both the local or city scale (Barcelona municipality) and the metropolitan or regional scale (Barcelona metropolitan region). Results from the research indicate that the contribution of ecosystem services provided by urban green infrastructure to cope with urban problems is often limited (e.g., its impact on air quality or carbon offsetting was lower than 3% considering total carbon emissions and air pollution in all case studies) and/or uncertain at the city and metropolitan scales. In addition, the positive impact of green infrastructure on environmental quality and human wellbeing is usually challenged by ecosystem disservices (e.g., biogenic emissions), trade-offs (e.g., provisioning versus regulating services) or spatial mismatches between service supply and demand (e.g., air purification and outdoor recreation capacities of large metropolitan green infrastructure blocks are too far from demand sites). On the basis of these findings, several implications for urban/landscape planning, management and decision-making are drawn, including: (1) the prioritization of abatement policies on the pressures generating a demand for certain ecosystem services (e.g., air purification and carbon sequestration); (2) combining land sharing strategies in urban and agricultural land in order to increase their multifunctionality and resilience and, concurrently, assure the conservation of large patches of multifunctional periurban forest areas; (3) development of new green spaces in compact urban cores using innovative strategies (e.g., rooftop gardens); and (4) consideration of ecosystem services trade-offs and disservices in planning and management. Finally, I contend that urban green infrastructure planning and management requires a holistic approach, considering the whole range of ecosystem services potentially provided by different types of green infrastructure and the interactions between them, together with the different spatial scales at which these ecosystem services can be relevant for the resilience, sustainability and livability of urban areas. This calls for a strong multi-scale and multi-disciplinary institutional coordination between all the authorities dealing with urban and environmental policy and for the harmonization of planning and management instruments in a multi-level governance approach.
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Ståhl, Isabella, and Rebecka Ståhl. "Integrering av vertikala växtväggar i stadsmiljö : En studie för att stärka stadens ekosystemtjänster." Thesis, Jönköping University, JTH, Byggnadsteknik och belysningsvetenskap, 2021. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-54050.
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Syfte: För att skapa väl fungerade städer som främjar mångfaldigt liv påstår C/O City (2017) att ekosystemtjänster måste implementeras. En ökad befolkning och förtätning har lett till bristande grönstruktur i urbana miljöer. Detta påverkar miljön och social-ekologin negativt. För att skapa hållbara, resilienta och attraktiva städer måste mångfunktionella gröna lösningar skapas och bidra med ekosystemtjänster. Målet med arbetet är därför att tillföra mer kunskap om stadens ekosystemtjänster och hur vertikala växtväggar kan förbättrar stadsmiljön. Metod: Den kvalitativa datan som analyseras i denna undersökning utgörs av intervjuer, enkäter, en dokument- och litteraturstudie. Intervjuerna används för att ge en djupgående förståelse för kommuners och byggherrars arbete med vertikala växtväggar samt ekosystemtjänster. Enkätundersökningen används för att översiktligt kartlägga kommuners arbete med vertikala växtväggar. I dokument- och litteraturstudien studeras verkliga exempel och hur de har utförts. Resultat: Vertikala växtväggar har möjligheten att stärka den urbana miljön i staden. Dessa gröna väggar kan bidra med stödjande-, reglerande-, kulturella- och försörjande ekosystemtjänster. I nuläget kan vertikala växtväggar påverka och förbättra mikroklimatet, besmycka hårda miljöer och till viss del stärka den biologiska mångfalden. För att motivera en storskalig etablering måste priset för levande väggar minskas och först då skulle en förbättring av stadsmiljön kunna ske. Konsekvenser: I många fall överskrider kostnaden incitamentet för etablering av levande väggar. Det presenteras en större vilja att stärka stadens horisontella grönstruktur och befintlig parkmark. I dagsläget ger växtväggarna främst ekosystemtjänster i ett mikroperspektiv. Det behövs en storskalig etablering för att påverka staden och befolkningen i sin helhet. I framtiden kan arbetsprocessen förbättras genom att öka kommunikationen mellan aktörer, ställa krav på grönytefaktorn samt motivera både byggherrar och individen att prioritera ekosystemtjänster högre. Rapporten ska sprida ljus över problemet och främja förbättring. Med rapporten som underlag kan förbättring av kommuners arbetsprocess ske. Begränsningar: Studien utreder inte hur vertikala växtväggar är konstruerade, tekniken bakom dem, ekonomiska faktorer eller växtväggar konstruerade inomhus. Den insamlade empirin tyder däremot på att ekonomi har en betydelse i frågan. Urvalet för enkätundersökningen har begränsats till Sveriges 50 största kommuner, utifrån invånare. Trots att urvalet begränsats geografiskt anses resultatet vara generellt. Den insamlade empirin tyder på att åsikterna kring ämnet är samstämmiga, och kan därav spegla de generella åsikterna om vertikal växtlighet i Sverige.Purpose: To create well-functioning cities that promote diversity of life C/O City (2017) claims that ecosystem services must be implemented. An increased population and urbanization have led to a lack of green areas in urban environments. This has a negative effect on the environment and social ecology. To create sustainable, resilient and attractive cities, multifunctional green solutions must be implemented and contribute to ecosystem services. The aim of the thesis is therefore to give more knowledge about the city's ecosystem services and how vertical vegetation can improve the urban environment. Method: The qualitative data analyzed in this thesis consists of interviews, survey, a document- and literature study. The interviews are used to provide an in-depth understanding of municipalities and developers work with vertical vegetation as well ecosystem services. The survey is used to map municipalities work with vertical vegetation. The document- and literature study analyzes real examples and how they have been executed. Findings: Vertical vegetation have the potential to strengthen the urban environment in the city. These green walls can provide supporting, regulatory, cultural and provisoning ecosystem services. At present, vertical vegetation can influence and improve the microclimate, embellish harsh environments and to some extent strengthen biodiversity. To justify a large-scale establishment, the price of living walls must be reduced and only then could an improvement of the urban environment take place. Implications: In many cases, the cost exceeds the incentive for establishing living walls. A greater willingness is presented to strengthen the city's horizontal green structure and existing parks. At present, vertical vegetation mainly provide ecosystem services in a micro perspective. A large-scale establishment is needed to influence the city and the population as a whole. In the future, the work process can be improved by increasing communication between actors, establish requirements for the green space factor and motivating both developers and the individual to give higher priority to ecosystem services. The thesis should shed light on the problem and promote improvement. With the thesis as a basis, the municipalities work process can be improved. Limitations: The thesis doesn’t investigate how vertical vegetation are constructed, the technology, economic factors or vertical vegetation constructed indoors. The collected empirical evidence, on the other hand, indicates that economics has a significance in the matter. The sample for the survey has been limited to Sweden's 50 largest municipalities, based on inhabitants. Although the selection is limited geographically, the result is considered to be general. The collected empirical evidence indicates that the views on the subject are consistent and may therefore reflect the general views on vertical vegetation in Sweden.
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Holland, Kelly John. "Effects on Boston's Urban Biodiversity." Thesis, Boston College, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/2345/377.
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Thesis advisor: David KraussIn an attempt to better understand the biodiversity of an urban ecosystem, we have conducted plant and bird biodiversity assessments of 10 sites in the Greater Boston area from September 2002-April 2003. These sites have been identified by the Urban Ecology Institute as important green areas through the Natural Cities Program. The purpose of this program is to create a greater body of knowledge of urban green spaces and the greater urban ecosystem of Boston. Our objective was to quantify plant and bird biodiversity by focusing on species richness. We then compared this biodiversity information to various factors such as area of impervious surface, and area of maintained lawn. Our analysis did not demonstrate statistically significant relationships between these factors
Thesis (BS) — Boston College, 2003
Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences
Discipline: Biology
Discipline: College Honors Program
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isaksson, Pia. "Management, valuation and evaluation of urban greenspace and trees in relation to resilience; : The importance of ecosystem services in the built environment and how they are maintained and cared for." Thesis, KTH, Hållbar utveckling, miljövetenskap och teknik, 2018. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-231620.
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Abstract: Managing worldwide urbanization and housing shortage in cities through a resilient development isan immense issue of today. This study states the risk with urban densification, at the expense ofgreenspace, which is crucial to maintain vital ecosystem services. The nonlinear response todisturbance in ecosystems, need to be emphasized both in planning and practice, to avoiddegradation and collapse. Despite general promotion of densification as a tool to decrease negativeurban impact on surrounding landscape, as to mitigate climate change, current strategies ofcompacting cities are argued to endanger future resilience. In this work, it is stressed that valuationof greenery in urban areas should include the recognition of uncertainty, safeguarding the availabilityof all forms of ecosystem services in a changing future. Applying a framework of social-ecologicalresilience, a case-study of Stockholm regarding valuation of greenery and ecosystem services inplanning and exploitation, as in continuous management, has been carried out. A wide range ofactors within the fields of green management, planning and exploitation have been interviewed.When compared with expressed visions in comprehensive plans and policies, results from interviewsshow severe gaps between planning and practice. Foresight planning in relation to adaptivegovernance, to enhance social-ecologic interactions, is suggested a tool to improve implementationand acknowledgement of ecosystem services in urban development and design. Further, enhancedcross-learning and knowledge exchange in the social-ecological system, should be improved throughinteraction and recognition of the variety of stakeholders and multi-functional green areas tostrengthen social-ecological resilience in the urban context.Sammanfattning: Dagens intensiva urbanisering och bostadsbrist, betonar behovet av resilient stadsutveckling. Dennastudie understryker faran med förtätning på bekostnad av grönstrukturer, vilka är avgörande förupprätthållandet av livsnödvändiga ekosystemtjänster. Ekosystems icke lineära respons påstörningar, bör uppmärksamma i både planering och praktik, för att undvika utarmning eller kollaps.Tillskillnad från ofta framhållna fördelar med förtätning, som minskad inverkan på kringliggandegrönstrukturer och motverkande av klimatförändringar, vill den här studien framhålla hurförtätningsprocesser riskerar att försämra städers resiliens. För att säkra en framtida motståndskraftoch anpassningsförmåga till förändrade omständigheter, bör värdering av grönstrukturer i stadsmiljötydliggöra framtida osäkerhetsfaktorer i relation till ekosystemens förmåga att tillhandahålla olikatjänster. Utifrån ett social-ekologiskt ramverk har en fallstudie av hur grönstrukturer värderas iplanering- och exploateringsprocesser, samt inom allmänt underhåll, genomförts i Stockholm. Enbredd av aktörer inom planering, exploatering och grönskötsel intervjuades. I jämförelse meduttryckta visioner i olika översiktsplaner och policydokument, visar resultaten från intervjuerna påflera luckor mellan planering och utförande. En långsiktig planering i samband med ett socialekologisktresilient styrelseskick, som syftar på en större förståelse och interaktion mellan socialaoch ekologiska faktorer, föreslås förbättra såväl implementering som uppmärksammande avekosystemtjänster inom stadsutformning och utveckling. Vidare kan ett utökat lärande ochkunskapsutväxling mellan och inom social-ekologiska system, öka förståelsen för- och förstärkastäders social-ekologiska resiliens.
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Heller, Charlotte. "The Public Perception of Urban Stormwater Ponds as Environmental Amenities." Thesis, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/40349.
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Integrating green or blue space into cities can provide environmental and public health benefits which maximize urban sustainability. One type of green/blue infrastructure that has been understudied is urban stormwater ponds, which are used to manage stormwater runoff. Their performance is typically only evaluated in terms of hydrological functions, with little focus on their capacity to provide ancillary benefits to communities. In this exploratory study, an online survey was distributed to six neighbourhoods in the City of Ottawa, ON to gain insight into the social value of urban stormwater ponds. The results revealed that despite some disadvantages, most respondents visited their neighbourhood stormwater ponds regularly and largely appreciated the cultural ecosystem services provided by these ponds, such as opportunities for experiencing nature, especially wildlife, and outdoor recreation. These findings can be used to improve the multifunctionality of stormwater ponds and optimize both environmental and social sustainability outcomes.
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Wabnitz, Colette Catherine Chantal. "Sea turtle conservation and ecosystem-based management with a focus on green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and seagrass beds." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/24239.
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The design of effective species management and recovery plans for sea turtle populations requires targets that are informed by an understanding of knowledge gained at the level of individuals/populations in the context of the wider goal of protecting an ecosystem's structural and functional attributes. In this thesis I present the first detailed investigation of the multiple levels at which sea turtles, particularly green turtles (Chelonia mydas), interact with ecosystems.
I begin by developing a framework for an age-structured population-level assessment of food consumption for hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), loggerhead (Caretta caretta), and green turtles. This entailed construction of species-specific growth models for the western Atlantic, and subsequent integration of results with morphometric, survival, abundance, and food conversion efficiency to derive consumption estimates.
At the ecosystem level, I developed models for the Caribbean and Hawai’í, where green turtles are present at very low abundances and reaching carrying capacity, respectively. In the Caribbean, results showed that green turtle grazing of seagrass substantially altered habitat complexity, reducing the refuge role of seagrass to reef fish and invertebrates, and leading to potentially dramatic changes in species biomass and composition. In Hawai‘i, by feeding on algae, green turtles were found to contribute to the resilience of reefs in the face of disturbance, a functional role that needs to be explicitly included in future studies of reef dynamics. Taken together, these findings highlight the need to consider trophic and indirect interactions in the evaluation of sea turtles’ role within ecosystems.
Accurate and reliable estimates of foraging habitat extent are essential to inform realistic and sustainable turtle recovery targets, particularly given the current degraded state of coastal ecosystems. Using Landsat satellite imagery, I present a novel mapping approach for seagrass habitats at large scales. Such regional initiatives are also urgently needed if the international community is to meet aims to conserve 10 – 30 % of specific habitats. A comparison between reef extent, determined using remote sensing and existing data, showed that discrepancies ranged from + 1,316 % to - 64 %, underlining our limited ability to ascertain progress towards adopted global marine conservation targets based on current data.
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Zhang, Yiting. "Urban morphology and ecosystem services : a historico-geographical study of fringe belts and urban green spaces in Birmingham, UK." Thesis, University of Birmingham, 2018. http://etheses.bham.ac.uk//id/eprint/8455/.
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Cities have tended to be treated by ecologists as essentially physical entities unconnected to the concerns of historical geographers. In contrast, urban morphologists have tended to focus on how urban physical expressions of culture have changed over time: such an approach has stimulated research on the characteristics and planning of the form of cities that has been largely divorced from concerns about ecosystem services. This is somewhat paradoxical in light of the significant areas of most cities that are vegetated and the increasing evidence of the value to society of these green spaces. This thesis examines the connection between urban morphological research on the fringe-belt concept, as developed by M. R. G. Conzen and others, and the character and distribution within cities of major areas of green space. The principal focus is on how green spaces within fringe belts that are embedded within cities (for example, parks, allotment gardens, golf courses, and land attached to educational and medical institutions) have changed over time, especially during the past 100 years. Detailed studies of fringe-belt sites in Birmingham reveal a decline in green space over time but maturation of surviving green space towards mature wood-grassland. Comparisons are made with residential areas.
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Johnson, Catherine E. "Role of Plant Species Richness in Green Roof Plots on the Quantity and Quality of Stormwater Runoff." University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1397734513.
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Jonsson, Amanda. "Planera för hållbara städer med gröna tak." Thesis, Umeå universitet, Institutionen för ekologi, miljö och geovetenskap, 2021. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-184494.
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Expected effects from climate change are increased precipitation and rising temperatures. This in combination with urban densification where green areas are replaced by hard surfaces contributes to a higher risk of floods and heat islands, since green areas provide ecosystem services which disposes local stormwater and has a cooling effect. The aim of this study was to investigate how green roofs and its ecosystem services can contribute to more sustainable cities. This study was conducted by literature data combined with interviews. The result of this study showed that the most important function of green roofs is stormwater management. The space in cities is limited and many functions e.g., infrastructure and buildings should fit in limited surface. The lack of space is a problem to ensure that there are sufficient green spaces that provides ecosystem services. This problem could decrease by using the roofs to a greater extent to ensure ecosystem services in form of e.g., stormwater management. However, the municipalities’ room for maneuver to plan with green roofs showed to be limited by regulations. In conclusion, there is potential to build green roofs to a greater extent as they have many benefits that are useful in urban densification and to counteract negative effects of climate change, e.g., stormwater management and temperature control. The municipal actors would therefore need more room to maneuver to be able to implement green roofs in community planning to a greater extent.
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Xing, Yin. "Design to Promote UrbanEcosystem Services : Examples of solutions with green - blueinfrastructure in public spaces." Thesis, KTH, Urbana och regionala studier, 2017. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-203806.
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The world is increasingly urbanizing with approximately 54% of the world population livingin cities (Langemeyer, 2015). This number is expected to rise to 66% by 2050 (UN, 2014),which means that urbanized areas will expand in size with an additional 2.5 billion new urbaninhabitants (Langemeyer, 2015). Studies show that urban expansion has the effect ofdecreasing, fragmenting, and isolating natural patches by altering the size, shape, andinterconnectivity of the natural landscape (Ricketts, 2001; Alberti, 2005). The consequentloss and degradation of urban and peri-urban green/blue space and elements couldadversely affect ecosystem and its services as well as human health and well-being.Through literature review, the concepts of urban ecosystem services and green-blueinfrastructures are introduced, as well as the main design principles for green-blueinfrastructures. The thesis also briefly introduces urban policies and implementation throughcase study with a focus on Malmö city. Meanwhile, the thesis discusses how the planninginstruments of Green Space Factor and Green Points are used in the Bo01 project and howthey contributed to promote ecosystem services in built environment.Through literature review and case study, the aim of this thesis is to collect design solutionsthat can be used as inspiration and guidance to promote urban ecosystem services throughgreen-blue infrastructures in built environments at different scales.
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YIN, XING. "Design to Promote UrbanEcosystem Services : Examples of solutions with green - blueinfrastructure in public spaces." Thesis, KTH, Urbana och regionala studier, 2017. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-203803.
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The world is increasingly urbanizing with approximately 54% of the world population livingin cities (Langemeyer, 2015). This number is expected to rise to 66% by 2050 (UN, 2014),which means that urbanized areas will expand in size with an additional 2.5 billion new urbaninhabitants (Langemeyer, 2015). Studies show that urban expansion has the effect ofdecreasing, fragmenting, and isolating natural patches by altering the size, shape, andinterconnectivity of the natural landscape (Ricketts, 2001; Alberti, 2005). The consequentloss and degradation of urban and peri-urban green/blue space and elements couldadversely affect ecosystem and its services as well as human health and well-being.Through literature review, the concepts of urban ecosystem services and green-blueinfrastructures are introduced, as well as the main design principles for green-blueinfrastructures. The thesis also briefly introduces urban policies and implementation throughcase study with a focus on Malmö city. Meanwhile, the thesis discusses how the planninginstruments of Green Space Factor and Green Points are used in the Bo01 project and howthey contributed to promote ecosystem services in built environment.Through literature review and case study, the aim of this thesis is to collect design solutionsthat can be used as inspiration and guidance to promote urban ecosystem services throughgreen-blue infrastructures in built environments at different scales.
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McFarland, Andrew J. "Using Ostracode Dynamics to Track Ecosystem Response to Climatically and Tectonically Induced Lake-Level Fluctuations in Fossil Basin, Green River Basin, Wyoming, USA." University of Akron / OhioLINK, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1348242706.
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Katycheva, Anna. "From Brownfields to Green Infrastructure : A resilience thinking approach to brownfield transformation." Thesis, KTH, Hållbar utveckling, miljövetenskap och teknik, 2019. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-256313.
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Brownfields have the potential to be transformed to offer green infrastructure to cities and bottom up environmental stewardship approaches can be a creative and dynamic way of providing much needed ecosystem services to the urban environment. The following study explores how the transformation of a contaminated site to a community garden in Stockholm can contribute to providing ecosystem services and improving general resilience. Through aqualitative method including literature review, interviews and observations; the results showed elements contributing to resilience including an increase in the diversity of the urban landscape, the creation of a space for social connections, and a gateway to sharing knowledge and creating polycentricity in natural resource management.Förorenade områden kan potentiellt omformas för att erbjuda grön infrastruktur till städer och miljöförvaltning kan vara ett kreativt och dynamiskt sätt att tillhandahålla välbehövliga ekosystemtjänster till stadsmiljön. Denna studie utforskar hur omvandlingen av ett förorenat område till en stadsodling i Stockholm kan bidra till att skapa ekosystemtjänster och ökan resiliens i samhället. Genom användningen av kvalitativa metoder – såsom en litteraturstudie, intervjuer och observationer – visar resultaten på en ökad resiliens genom ökad mångfald i landskapet, skapandet av plats för sociala förbindelser, ökad kunskap om ekosystemtjänster samt polycentricitet inom naturresurshantering.
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Silveira, Clarissa Ferreira Albrecht da. "A systemic approach for integrative design of buildings and landscapes: towards ecosystem services provision in urban areas." Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 2018. http://www.locus.ufv.br/handle/123456789/21778.
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Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
Cities are at the core of current environmental problems and, conversely, may host the solutions for them. They are the defining ecological phenomenon of the twenty-first century. Natural patterns and processes within cities might be a means toward an ecological regeneration of their bioregions through a symbiotic relationship between them. In this context, design has a great potential to reshape cities, transforming them for improved living conditions and balanced ecological systems. Considering buildings and landscapes as reciprocal entities within a system is a great opportunity for design innovation and increased performance with an active engagement between people and nature. By assuming the ecosystem services approach as a reference for highest ecological performance when multiple ecosystem services are provided within a system, this dissertation proposes an urban ecosystem services framework and the concept of service providing design for assessing architecture and landscape architecture. This framework is the basis to analyze three rating systems that are the most relevant standards for sustainable and regenerative design of architecture and landscape architecture, being the Living Building Challenge â , LEED â , and Sustainable SITES Initiative â . Furthermore, two architecture and landscape architecture certified and high-performance projects are analyzed. Based on the analysis, other ecosystem services beyond those proposed in the framework are identified, being renewable energy sources and active living. Some ecosystem services considered are not required by the rating systems, and not provided by the projects, being medicinal resources, pollination, and spiritual experience. Although required, food production is not provided in the projects studied due to a scale issue as they are located in densely occupied urban sites. Moreover, SITES is currently more related to ecosystem services than LEED, which suggests that the ecosystem services framework has a great potential as a tool to explore the relationship of building design criteria and natural systems and cycles. Although most ecosystem services are identified as provided by the two assessed projects, their performance suggests that they are not yet fully integrated to the natural ecosystem. This fact corroborates to the necessary next step for defining the Urban Ecosystem Services Framework in a quantitative approach with a hierarchical organization of the ecosystem services. Rigorously addressing the ecosystem services approach in LEED, SITES, and other rating systems will help integrate ecological regeneration processes in architecture, landscape architecture, and cities.
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Greenleaf, Holly Lee. "From Maintenance To Stewardship: Green Stormwater Infrastructure Capacity In Vermont Towns & Design And Participatory Processes To Provide Cultural Ecosystem Services." ScholarWorks @ UVM, 2019. https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/graddis/1010.
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The impervious surfaces of built landscapes create stormwater runoff that causes water quantity and quality problems downstream, upsetting natural hydrology and harming aquatic ecosystems. Green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) includes practices that reduce the amount of stormwater runoff and the pollutants it carries utilizing plants, soils, and other materials to capture, store, reuse, infiltrate, evapotranspire, and filter stormwater. GSI helps to restore developed landscapes, mimicking natural hydrologic processes and providing important water treatment functions as well as beneficial green spaces in urban areas. However, there are many challenges associated with the implementation and maintenance of GSI in our communities and cultures.
This research explores the human side of implementing GSI, investigating current maintenance capacities in rural and urban settings, and exploring multifunctional benefits of GSI to provide both biophysical and cultural ecosystem services (CES). Research goals include characterizing the current state of GSI implementation and maintenance in municipalities in the State of Vermont (USA) and eliciting lessons that can inform GSI design practices and policies. Multifunctional GSI design objectives that provide and enhance CES are described, revealing opportunities to instill values and a sense of stewardship for the health wellbeing of people and ecosystems.
The first chapter provides relevant topical background to set the stage for the latter two chapters. The second chapter analyzes results from a survey of municipal officials in Vermont that occurred as part of NSF-EPSCoR-funded Basin Resilience to Extreme Events project research on stormwater management. The survey included questions about GSI and maintenance practices in place and perceptions of visual appeal and ability to maintain bioretention systems shown in landscape visualizations. Results show that visual appeal and perceived maintainability of vegetated bioretention practices do not appear to be significant barriers to adoption and operation, but stormwater policy and funding are shown to be both significant barriers and solutions to implementing and maintaining GSI in Vermont municipalities. Additionally, urban and rural towns provide very different contexts for implementing and maintaining GSI in Vermont and characteristics of development patterns and maintenance capacity should be considered in policy, regulations, outreach, and education.
The third chapter offers a literature review, guided by a CES framework, of design elements that can be included in GSI to create multifunctional urban green spaces. CES categories of aesthetic, recreation, education, sense of place, social capital, and stewardship benefits framed a set of design elements, principles, practices, and documented benefits to guide multifunctional design of GSI. Findings include the importance of participatory processes to elicit diverse landscape values, visible water pathways, biodiversity, spaces for creative use, accessibility, interaction with water, interpretive signage, and artful and biophilic design features to enhance feelings of preference, pleasure, relaxation, learning, connection, and inclusion. The health and wellbeing of water and people must be integrated into the design of GSI for cities to be ecologically functional and culturally meaningful to their populations.
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Hopkins, Rachel Ann. "Public urban green space: Exploring priorities and challenges for managing and valuing green space, using Stockholm as a case study." Thesis, KTH, Hållbar utveckling, miljövetenskap och teknik, 2021. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-299526.
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Public urban green space has never been more important: Its past contributions and potential to promote future public health, climate mitigation, and biodiversity are invaluable to cities experiencing population growth and urban densification. This research explores complexities of multiple demands on public urban green space in cities, using Stockholm as a case study. Semi-structured interviews with local professionals in the environmental planning field, supported by an analysis of key documents, assist in identifying key priorities and challenges, and highlighting considerations for the use of tools which value these spaces and their associated ecosystem services. Key priorities for the management of public urban green spaces are found to be: Adapting to effects of climate change, protecting biodiversity, and provision of cultural ecosystem services. Key challenges facing the management of public urban green spaces were highlighted as: Urban densification, green-washing, unclear definitions of concepts such as ‘green space’, and expectations of spaces being multifunctional. There are discussions that valuation tools do not have the ability to accurately measure and assess cultural ecosystem services, that collaborative tools can be more effective, and that there are both benefits and drawbacks concerning monetary valuations. Findings have implications for Stockholm’s management of public urban green space, and can be used to inform environmental planning policies. Recommendations for future research include investigating tools available for the assessment, mapping, and valuation of the qualities of green spaces, as well as identifying assessment tools Stockholm City Council have previous experience with.Stadsnära grönområden och parker har aldrig varit viktigare: dess tidigare bidrag och potential att främja framtida folkhälsa, motverka klimatförändringar, och främja biologisk mångfald är ovärderliga för städer som upplever befolkningstillväxt och ökande befolkningstäthet. Denna studie utforskar komplexiteten av olika krav på allmänna grönområden i städer, med hjälp av Stockholm som en fallstudie. Semistrukturerade intervjuer med lokala yrkesverksamma inom miljöplaneringsområdet, stödda av en analys av nyckeldokument, hjälper till att identifiera viktiga prioriteringar och utmaningar och belyser överväganden för användningen av verktyg som värderar dessa utrymmen och deras tillhörande ekosystemtjänster. Nyckelprioriteringar för hanteringen av allmänna grönområden i städerna visar sig vara: Anpassning till effekterna av klimatförändringar, skydd av biologisk mångfald och tillhandahållande av kulturella ekosystemtjänster. De viktigaste utmaningarna för hanteringen av offentliga grönområden i städerna lyfts fram som: ökande befolkningstäthet i städer, green-washing, oklara definitioner av begrepp som ”grönområde” och förväntningar på att utrymmen ska vara multifunktionella. Det diskuteras att värderingsverktyg inte har möjlighet att noggrant mäta och bedöma kulturella ekosystemtjänster, att samarbetsverktyg kan vara effektivare och att det finns både fördelar och nackdelar med monetära värderingar. Resultaten har konsekvenser för Stockholms skötsel och av allmänna grönområden och kan användas för att informera miljöplaneringspolitiken. Rekommendationer för framtida forskning inkluderar att utreda verktyg som är tillgängliga för bedömning, kartläggning och värdering av grönområdens kvaliteter, samt identifiering av bedömningsverktyg som Stockholms stad har tidigare erfarenhet av.
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Charest, Suzanne. "Ecosystem-based design : addressing the loss of biodiversity and nature experience through architecture and ecology." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/4653.
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This thesis is based on two observations. First, that conventional buildings cause two major losses that involve non-human nature – the loss of native biodiversity and the loss of non-human nature experience for the buildings’ human inhabitants – and that these losses both contribute to a perceived separation between humans and the rest of nature. Second, that there appears to be a growing interest in connecting buildings with nature but there is little agreement on what it actually means to ‘design with nature’. As such, the purpose of this study is two-fold: (1) to describe the meaning of ‘designing with nature’ in current architectural practice and provide a working definition of nature-based design, and (2) to explore how this can be interpreted to encourage human connectedness with non-human nature, while addressing the two major losses mentioned above. It is thus an attempt to reframe the role of building as one that provides for all inhabitants of a site, both human and non. A framework was developed that captures and summarizes the dominant ways in which design draws on nature. The framework emphasizes the importance of using ecosystems not only as models, but foremost as context. The core concepts of the framework can thus be discussed from the perspective of buildings that act like an ecosystem and that interact with their ecosystem, and are described as: ecological sense of place, regenerative ability, ecosystem health, mutually beneficial relationships, context, appropriate management, functions, ecosystem principles, values, patterns, conditions, and adaptations. Although the concepts presented in the framework are themselves not new, the way in which they are organized does contribute a new perspective on the field of nature-based design. In addition to providing a graphic model that summarizes the essence of an evolving field, the research highlights the role of scale and place in linking building design, native biodiversity, nature experience and connectedness with nature. It thus acts as a backdrop on which to bring a discussion of ecological citizenship into the architectural dialogue.
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Nassirzadeh, Yazdi Arjang. "Urban agricultural practices within Stockholm -And their contribution to increase economical and ecological sustainability." Thesis, Linnéuniversitetet, Institutionen för design (DE), 2021. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-105585.
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The paper reports on a study of how urban gardening can be implemented in the urban planning for the area, how urban gardening can be used as a tool for a more sustainable city, as well as to understand the role of cafes in encouraging the residents of the Stockholm, both directly and indirectly, to engage in sustainable consumption practices. This project will look at how urban gardening tools can be used within Stockholm to increase sustainable consumption practices. The final outcome, of which, will be a mobile herb garden that travels to different cafes in urban areas of Stockholm, with suggestions as to what could be included in the area to maximize the environmental and economical benefits. Through participatory design approach a range of urban gardening practices has been included in the suggested plans including mobile gardens, community gardens, and growing local foods to maximize the benefits for both the residents and the planet. As a designer and discerning consumers I tried to start to look beyond the pure surface in this project and reveal the potential of urbanization especially by looking closer at “what is” in this case, the impact of cafes can play on encouraging citizens to sustainable consumption and that can be shared as surplus in an urban area in central Stockholm which can be prototyped and be read as a case study to “ what if “.
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Rehn, Felicia. "Pollinators in Urban Landscapes : Local and landscape factors impact on pollinator species richness and abundance." Thesis, Södertörns högskola, Miljövetenskap, 2019. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:sh:diva-38559.
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Increasing human populations results in fast-growing urbanization. Natural and semi-natural landscapes are replaced with urban landscape features like roads, sidewalks, industrial and residential buildings. The remnants of the natural landscapes are left fragmented and are often managed by frequent mowing and trimming of the vegetation. This development has had a negative impact on pollinators such as bees and wasps. Bees and wasps are pollinating insects providing an ecosystem service that sustain the global food supply. Pollinators are important also in urban landscapes where their services are needed for ecological stability and biodiversity. This study compares 23 locations in Sollentuna municipality, to investigate if species richness and abundance of bees and wasps are correlated with local factors, landscape factors or both. The available food resources are measured in buffer zones with 200m radius. Local variables are: dead wood, exposed sand, extended edge zones, flowering plant species richness and unmanaged habitat. The result showed that the landscape factor of food availability was more important for the abundance of pollinators while local variables together with the landscape factor of food availability had a positive effect on the species richness.
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Burger, Margaret Hendrieka Margo. "Working for ecosystems: an account of how pathways of learning lead to SMME development in a municipal social-ecological programme within a green economy context." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/7735.
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Global climate change alters climatic zones to the extent that species invasion and, in particular, invasive alien plant growth, is regarded as one of the biggest threats to ecosystem functioning. Socio-ecological adaptive management practices have emerged from these threats as opportunities in developing countries where the immediacy of poverty relief acts as a political drawcard and potential for job creation. Local workers in the eThekwini Municipality’s ‘Working for Ecosystems’ biodiversity management programme (WFE) are emerging as micro-enterprise contractors (SMMEs). The transition from worker to entrepreneur has been part of the ethos and long-term planning of the Working for Ecosystems programme at a management level with a view to economic inclusion and realising long-term sustainable livelihoods. Evidence from narratives support claims of transformative outcomes. The findings of this study show that transformation is accessed at various levels: at a management level, at a well-established SMME level and from worker-to- SMME level. These show an “articulation of learning pathways and the connections that are made without a formally structured pathway of learning being in place” (Lotz-Sisitka & Ramsarup, 2013, p. 33). The routes followed to knowledge, practice and sustainability competences by participants in Working for Ecosystems are examined within the complex constellation of material- economic, social-political and cultural-discursive structures and are conceptualised as learning pathways. To fully appreciate the evolving and multidimensional nature of the emergence of SMME practice learning in the Working for Ecosystems programme, relational ontology as a perspective was introduced, with the intention of emphasising the relationship between practice, knowledge and context. Narrative enquiry and extensive data analysis was used as the method to examine workplace learning pathways. These workplace learning pathways can be enriched by more explicitly integrating observation of local and indigenous knowledge of biodiversity in everyday work and practice. However, intermittent contractual work causes disruption in learning pathways formation and results in a lack of stability in conflict with the aims of the programme’s objectives of building capacity and robustness. Findings show that skills development in terms of workplace learning with intersecting, diverse levels of participation and knowledge flow, is particularly important for learning pathways development in the field of invasive alien plant control where divergent values, norms and levels of practice are operational. Prior knowledge, of either indigenous plants or business functioning mechanisms, scaffolds SMME skills through relevance and connected learning in the two fields of practice pertaining to the Working for Ecosystems programme. Clarity of management roles and solidarity within management enhances SMME functioning and learning pathway development for all participants. The Expanded Public Works Programmes (such as Working for Ecosystems) are examined as an opportunity for acquisition of knowledge, competence and new skills development. A prime competence for sustainability understanding is interpersonal skills as these form an essential link with most other competences and as such should be foregrounded in training and learning pathway development. Site selection and time in the programme is a critical factor for expansive learning pathways and environmental stewardship development. Ultimately, in examining and reflecting on the Education for Sustainable Development and green economy potential, it is apparent that learning pathway development needs more support to realise the possibility of entrepreneurship and its political and social significance in terms of sustainable livelihoods. There is a need to recognise diversity, multiple ways of knowing and learning, in learning pathways development “to build joint capacity to cope with complex sustainability challenges” (Wiek, Withycombe, & Redman, 2011).
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Wikström, Alice. "The Green Area Factor, Green Infrastructure and Biodiversity : An investigation of the preservation of urban biodiversity within the city of Stockholm." Thesis, KTH, Hållbar utveckling, miljövetenskap och teknik, 2020. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-285915.
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Urbanization is increasing around the world and causes distress on the urban green areas as more and more people moves into cities. This leads to expansion and densification of the city and green areas within and around the cities run the risk of being exploited and fragmented. Thus, the rapid urbanisation process negatively affects biodiversity, as fragmentation of green areas occurs due to development of housing and roads. This results in habitat loss, causing decreasing species populations, and loss of connectivity for species dispersal. Urban green areas are important for maintenance of ecosystem services provided by nature. One ecosystem service which is considered a supportive ecosystem service is biodiversity. Biodiversity is therefore vital to preserve not only for the survival of nature, but for the survival of mankind. There are several, both international and national, objectives concerning the preservation of biodiversity. One of the Swedish Environmental Objectives is called “A Rich Diversity of Plant and Animal Life” and is directly targeting the conservation of biodiversity and had its due time in 2020. The objective was deemed not fulfilled this year, and one of the reasons mentioned was the expansion of cities, as green areas risked being exploited and fragmented. The shrinkage and isolation of natural habitats increase the risk for degradation of urban biodiversity so therefore the conclusion was to consider green areas at an early stage of the physical planning process. In this context, Green Infrastructure (GI) is the coherent network of structures, nature areas and habitats that are important for the provision of ecosystem services. GI is used when working with climate adaptation, social values, and biodiversity in urban areas. The Green Area Factor (Grönytefaktor, GYF, Swedish abbreviation) used in Sweden has been adapted to fit the current values and goals of the city of Malmö in Sweden, and later on applied in three of the biggest cities of Sweden: Malmö, Gothenburg, and Stockholm. GYF used in the City of Stockholm is a planning tool adopted for development districts and is applied during land allocation within the municipality (abbreviated GYF KVM). GYF KVM is calculated by dividing the sum of the green areas with the total area of the property. This result in a factor which should be achieved when the development on the property is completed. This thesis investigates how GYF KVM is treated by developers and the city of Stockholm during development and whether GYF KVM is a good tool for preserving the biological diversity in cities. The report also investigates whether GYF KVM is a long-term solution for strengthening the GI, especially regarding biodiversity. Methods used for answering the objectives were in the form of literature research of both scientific and grey literature, and interviews with stakeholders. The stakeholders identified were the City of Stockholm, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), consultants, C/O City and developers operating within the city of Stockholm. The thesis concluded that GYF KVM is a tool that is primarily intended to implement ecosystem services and is not only intended to strengthen biodiversity. However, GYF KVM lacks strong links to GI as the area of application is limited to the district. One solution could be for the city to implement a complementary tool for the design of green areas on public land. In this way, the planning area is expanded. Another proposal that was raised was to implement a binding national GYF model that ensures that more municipalities use GYF when planning urban environments. A national GYF model would also ensure that the additional green values are followed up and maintained.En alltmer ökande urbanisering sker runt om i världen och i Stockholms stad växer antalet invånare för varje dag. Urbanisering innebär oftast en påfrestning på de urbana grönytorna då alltfler människor centreras kring stadskärnan vilket resulterar i expandering och förtätning av staden. Den biologiska mångfalden i den urbana miljön riskerar därmed att påverkas negativt. Grönytorna i städer är viktiga att bibehålla för att upprätthålla ekosystemtjänster som naturen ger oss. En ekosystemtjänst som klassas som en stödjande tjänst är den biologiska mångfalden. Biologisk mångfald är därför viktig att säkra inte enbart för naturens skull utan också för människans överlevnad. Det finns många mål, både internationella och nationella, kopplade till bevarande av den biologiska mångfalden. Ett av Sveriges miljökvalitetsmål berör den biologiska mångfalden och heter Ett rikt växt- och djurliv. Naturvårdsverket bedömde att målet inte skulle uppnås år 2020 och ett av hoten mot biologisk mångfald var stadsutbredning. Skälet till detta ansågs vara att grönytor riskerar att exploateras och fragmenteras, vilket ökar risken för degradering av den biologiska mångfalden i staden. Grönytor bör därför beaktas av kommunerna i ett tidigt skede i den fysiska planeringen. Grön infrastruktur (GI) är det sammanhängande nätverk av strukturer, naturområden och livsmiljöer som är viktiga för tillhandahållande av ekosystemtjänster. GI används vid arbete med klimatanpassning, sociala värden och biologisk mångfald i urbana och andra miljöer. Grönytefaktor (GYF) för allmän platsmark är ett planeringsverktyg som används vid planering av gröna ytor inom en tomt eller en fastighet som ska exploateras. För att särskilja GYF för kvartersmark från andra GYF modeller kommer GYF som används i Stockholms stad hädanefter att förkortas till GYF KVM. GYF KVM räknas ut genom att man dividerar de gröna ytorna inom en fastighet med den totala ytan. På så sätt får man en kvot, eller en faktor, som ska uppnås när fastigheten är bebyggd och färdigställd. GYF modeller används och appliceras i Sveriges tre största städer; Malmö, Göteborg och Stockholm. I dessa städer har GYF modellerats efter den specifika stadens behov och mål. I Stockholms stad ställs GYF som ett krav vid försäljning av kommunal mark till en byggherre för exploatering och är tänkt att stärka den gröna infrastrukturen i staden. Den här rapporten utreder hur byggherrar och Stockholms stad behandlar GYF KVM vid exploatering samt om GYF KVM är ett bra verktyg för att bevara den biologiska mångfalden i städer. Rapporten utreder också om GYF KVM är en långsiktig lösning för stärkande av den gröna infrastrukturen, speciellt gällande den biologiska mångfalden. Metoder som appliceras för att svara på frågorna var en litteraturstudie av vetenskapliga rapporter samt rapporter från statliga myndigheter och Stockholm stad. En intervjustudie utfördes också med berörda parter; Stockholm stad, Naturvårdsverket, konsulter, C/O City och byggherrar verksamma inom kommunen. Sammanfattningsvis kan det konstateras att GYF KVM är ett verktyg som främst är till för att implementera ekosystemtjänster, och är inte enbart till för att stärka den biologiska mångfalden. Dock saknar GYF KVM starka kopplingar till GI då planområdet för GYF KVM är begränsat. En lösning kan vara att staden implementerar ett kompletterande verktyg för utformning av grönytor på den allmänna platsmarken, så kallad GYF AP. På så sätt utökas planområdet. Ett annat förslag som togs upp var att implementera en bindande nationell GYF-modell som säkerställer att fler kommuner använder sig av GYF vid planering av urbana miljöer. En nationell GYF-modell skulle också säkerställa att de tillkommande gröna värdena följs upp och kvarstår.