Ecosystem services in urban areas

Humanity is increasingly urban, but continues to depend on Nature for its s urvival. Cities are dependent on the ecosystems beyond the city limits, but also benefit from internal urban ecosystems. The aim of this paper is to a nalyze the ecosystem services generated by ecosystems within the urban area . 'Ecosystem services' refers to the benefits human populations derive from ecosystems. Seven different urban ecosystems have been identified: street trees; lawns/parks; urban forests; cultivated land wetlands; lakes/sea; and streams. These systems generate a range of ecosystem services. In this pap er, six local and direct services relevant for Stockholm are addressed: air filtration, micro climate regulation, noise reduction, rainwater drainage, sewage treatment, and recreational and cultural values. It is concluded th at the locally generated ecosystem services have a substantial impact on th e quality-of-life in urban areas and should be addressed in land-use planni ng. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.