Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Mitali Yeshwant Joshi, Jacques Teller
Summary: Green roofs are a sustainable alternative to conventional roofs, providing multiple ecosystem services. However, integrating green roofs into urban areas may face various challenges, as their effectiveness largely depends on weather conditions and existing construction or design-related parameters. Further research is needed to explore the impact of green roofs on different geographical locations and urban contexts to better understand their potential benefits.
Article
Ecology
Pablo Herreros-Cantis, Timon McPhearson
Summary: Urban green infrastructure is crucial for climate change adaptation, but the distribution of its benefits in cities like New York City is influenced by socio-demographic factors, leading to environmental injustices in access to these climate-regulating services. An analysis of supply-demand mismatches in ecosystem services reveals spatial inequalities in climate resilience across the city.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Solhanlle Bonilla-Duarte, Victor Gomez-Valenzuela, Alma-Liz de la Mora, Agustin Garcia-Garcia
Summary: This research study constructed a forest cover sustainability index based on interviews with residents, identifying Gazcue as having the highest value due to factors like job stability, medium-high income, and property ownership. Urban forest planning in cities should consider tree species, design, and a legal framework to address territorial sustainability challenges and contribute to resilience and mitigation of climate change impacts.
Article
Economics
Hongshan Ai, Zhengqing Zhou
Summary: This paper examines whether and how China's National Forest City (NFC) policy affects economic growth through ecosystem services restoration. Using a Chinese county panel from 1999 to 2019, the study found that the NFC significantly promotes economic growth by improving environmental conditions through providing ecosystem services. The mechanisms through which the NFC promotes economic growth are the improvement of total factor productivity and human capital enhancement, with the enhancement of the urban ecosystem.
ECONOMIC MODELLING
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Yaella Depietri
Summary: This paper reviews recent literature to analyze the tradeoffs and synergies that can arise from the design and implementation of urban green infrastructure (UGI). It also suggests approaches to reduce tradeoffs and maximize synergies.
CURRENT OPINION IN ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Andresa Ledo Marques, Angelica Tanus Benatti Alvim, Joerg Schroeder
Summary: The effects of climate change on urban areas are negative and cities need to adapt to these impacts. However, there is a lack of structured analysis on the contribution of ecosystem services in urban planning and climate change adaptation. This study reviewed the literature and found a growing scientific interest in the subject, interdisciplinary research, the use of different evaluation methods, and a systemic perspective on sustainability.
Article
Ecology
Diane E. Pataki, Marina Alberti, Mary L. Cadenasso, Alexander J. Felson, Mark J. McDonnell, Stephanie Pincetl, Richard V. Pouyat, Heikki Setala, Thomas H. Whitlow
Summary: Research shows that urban trees provide benefits such as local cooling, stormwater absorption, and health benefits for residents, but have limited potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. Due to space constraints, urban trees are more promising for climate and pollution adaptation strategies rather than mitigation strategies.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Review
Ecology
Zbigniew J. Grabowski, Timon McPhearson, A. Marissa Matsler, Peter Groffman, Steward T. A. Pickett
Summary: In response to interdependent challenges, city planners are increasingly adopting green infrastructure (GI). The study reviewed 122 plans from 20 US cities and identified the types of city plans that address and define GI. Many plans comply with US Clean Water Act regulations and there is an emerging trend towards integrating GI with other built infrastructure systems. However, there is a need for synthesis of GI definitions due to the differences in types, functions, and benefits across concepts, plan types, and cities.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Zita Ring, Doris Damyanovic, Florian Reinwald
Summary: Urban planning needs to reconsider green infrastructure and optimize land use. The lack of specific tools for controlling urban green infrastructure at plot level highlights the importance of innovative approaches like the Green and Open Space Factor Vienna. By considering climatic, ecological, and social aspects, this new calculation method provides a promising approach for socially sustainable urban development.
URBAN FORESTRY & URBAN GREENING
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Hui Dang, Jing Li, Yumeng Zhang, Zixiang Zhou
Summary: The study evaluated and mapped four types of ecosystem services in Xi'an City, finding that urban green spaces need to improve biodiversity and have a significant impact on PM2.5 adsorption. There is uneven distribution of green space resources in the area, leading to inequitable ecosystem services in different regions. Creating an ecosystem services cluster based on integrated services can help maximize ecological functions, promote sustainable development, and enhance people's well-being.
Review
Ecology
Sofia Flores, Carmen Van Mechelen, Jose Palacios Vallejo, Koenraad Van Meerbeek
Summary: Urbanization is driving economic development in Latin America, but it is also causing pressure on people and biodiversity in cities. Urban green spaces provide an opportunity to mitigate adverse consequences and improve the urban environment, but research on their functioning and implementation in Latin America is limited.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Francesco Busca, Roberto Revelli
Summary: This study aims to analyze the role of urban green infrastructures in the fight against climate change by restoring ecological functions. A quantification study of ecosystem services provided by a green area in the Turin metropolitan area was conducted. The results compare different scenarios and explore the effects of a medium-sized urban green infrastructure on the surrounding environment as climate and vegetative conditions vary.
Review
Ecology
Heather L. Reynolds, Sarah K. Mincey, Robert D. Montoya, Samantha Hamlin, Abigail Sullivan, Bhuwan Thapa, Jeffrey Wilson, Howard Rosing, Joseph Jarzen, J. Morgan Grove
Summary: This paper introduces a framework for urban resilience based on social-ecological systems and resilience, emphasizing core features of urban resilience, including social and ecological dimensions, as well as methodological aspects. The framework helps promote systems-based urban planning.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Review
Environmental Studies
Clare Adams, Niki Frantzeskaki, Magnus Moglia
Summary: Nature-based solutions are gaining attention in urban sustainability discussions, particularly in climate adaptation and increasing resilience. However, there are barriers to their adoption and a lack of clarity around the concept of mainstreaming. This article proposes a new framework and definition for mainstreaming nature-based solutions in cities, helping to operationalize these processes and transform urban planning practices.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Edoardo Croci, Benedetta Lucchitta, Tommaso Penati
Summary: In 2005, Milan Municipality launched the "Adopt a green spot" initiative, using a Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) scheme to restore and maintain scattered and marginal green areas. The success of the initiative is attributed to flexible voluntary agreements, diverse green areas, public recognition, and low transaction costs. These characteristics allow the initiative to be replicated in other urban contexts.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Xuezheng Zong, Xiaorui Tian, Xianli Wang
Summary: Climate change has caused longer fire seasons and more intense wildfires worldwide, leading to significant economic and environmental impacts. A study conducted in Southwest China evaluated the effectiveness of different fuel treatment designs in mitigating wildfire risk under varying fire severity conditions. The results showed that fuel treatments were effective in reducing risk under low and normal fire severity scenarios, but their effectiveness was limited under high fire severity conditions.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Jian Peng, Xiaoyu Wang, Huining Zheng, Zihan Xu
Summary: This study developed an index system to evaluate the trade-off between grain production service and water purification service in the Dongting Lake Basin. The results showed that converting cropland with high nitrogen output into forest land can minimize this trade-off.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Francois Chiron, Romain Lorrilliere, Carmen Bessa-Gomes, Piotr Tryjanowski, Joan Casanelles-Abella, Lauri Laanisto, Ana Leal, Anskje Van Mensel, Marco Moretti, Babette Muyshondt, Ulo Niinemets, Marta Alos Orti, Pedro Pinho, Roeland Samson, Nicolas Deguines
Summary: In cities, green areas play a crucial role in biodiversity conservation, and the heterogeneity of land cover is an important factor. The relationship between area and heterogeneity affects the richness of bird species in urban green areas, with urban avoider species benefiting from large and heterogeneous patches.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Aleksandra Lis, Karolina Zalewska, Pawel Iwankowski, Katarzyna Betkier, Paulina Bilska, Viktoriia Dudar, Aleksandra L. Lagiewka
Summary: Appleton's prospect-refuge theory suggests that the presence of dense vegetation, topography, and people in a park can influence the safety and privacy felt by visitors in different ways. This study aimed to understand the relationship between observation point height, vegetation location, presence of other people, and perceived privacy and safety. The results showed that flat or lower ground without the presence of others was considered the safest, while landscapes higher up with dense vegetation and no other people were rated highest in terms of privacy. The findings have practical implications in terms of providing privacy without compromising safety.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Jianting Zhao, Guibo Sun, Chris Webster
Summary: This study developed a geospatial database to document the locations and urban environments of pandemic-induced street experiments on a global scale, and conducted quantitative analysis based on spatial and temporal visualizations. The study aims to enhance comparability of built environment indicators between cities and provide a robust foundation for future research on tactical urbanism.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Huaqing Wang, Louis G. Tassinary
Summary: This study investigated the influence of urban greenspace spatial morphology on non-communicable diseases and found that neighborhoods with more connected, aggregated, coherent, and complex-shaped greenspace had a lower prevalence of these diseases. Such associations were mediated by air pollution and physical inactivity. The results suggest that the spatial morphology of designed urban greenspace plays a significant role in neighborhood health.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Chiwei Xiao, Yi Wang, Mingyan Yan, Jeffrey Chiwuikem Chiaka
Summary: Regional integration initiatives, such as cross-border transportation corridors, have significant impacts on land use changes and landscape patterns. This study examines the China-Laos Railway as a case study to evaluate the extent and significance of these impacts. Using land-use data and geospatial analysis, the study quantifies and compares the effects of the railway on land use changes within a buffer zone along the corridor.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2024)
Review
Ecology
Astrid Zabel, Mara-Magdalena Hausler
Summary: Developing a green infrastructure is an important environmental policy goal in many countries around the world. Different countries have different requirements on the spatial allocation of conservation sites for green infrastructure. Price-type and procedural instruments are commonly used, but the utilization of incentive mechanisms that internalize the benefit of clustering is relatively low. There is a need for more studies on incentive mechanisms and green infrastructure policies in the global South.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Timothy Fraser, Olivia Feeley, Andres Ridge, Ava Cervini, Vincent Rago, Kelly Gilmore, Gianna Worthington, Ilana Berliavsky
Summary: This study examines the inequality of social infrastructure in Boston, finding significant racial and income disparities in access. These disparities have implications for the health and resilience of neighborhoods.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Yutian Lu, Running Chen, Bin Chen, Jiayu Wu
Summary: The inequitable distribution of urban green spaces has become a significant concern, with variations found between cities in different development stages, and socioeconomic factors playing a crucial role in the spatial equity of urban green spaces.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Di Chen, Jie Yin, Chia-Pin Yu, Shengjing Sun, Charlotte Gabel, John D. Spengler
Summary: Observational and experimental studies have shown that exposure to greenness is beneficial for long-term health and well-being. However, more evidence is needed regarding the short-term health impacts of nearby nature in urban areas. This study used immersive virtual reality technology to investigate how transitions between built and natural environments affect urban residents. Results showed that transitioning from built to natural environments led to reductions in negative mood and transient anxiety, while transitions from natural to built environments had the opposite effect. Additionally, participants showed more emotional responses to nature through physiological measures. The study also highlighted the influence of contextual factors, such as physical health conditions, stress levels, experience with nature, and growth environments, on stress recovery. Overall, this study provides empirical evidence supporting the promotion of nearby nature in urban built environments.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Daniele Codato, Francesca Peroni, Massimo De Marchi
Summary: This study examines climate justice in the Ecuadorian Amazon Region (EAR), highlighting the multiple injustices caused by oil extraction activities. Using spatial analysis, the study shows that the EAR has been a major producer of oil since 1972, leading to environmental impacts such as oil spills and pollution. The results emphasize the need to include these territories in climate justice discussions and promote the rights to a non-toxic environment.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Jingli Yan, Wendy Y. Chen, Zixiao Zhang, Wenxing Zhao, Min Liu, Shan Yin
Summary: Vegetation barriers are an effective strategy in urban planning to mitigate traffic-induced air pollution and reduce exposure. This study uses field measurements and numerical modeling to show that constructing vegetation barriers with short bushes can effectively reduce PM2.5 pollution in open-road environments, while higher coverage of tall bushes may worsen the pollution.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2024)