Ecosystem services of urban rivers: a systematic review

Abstract

The multifaceted threats to global freshwater ecosystems, especially in urban environments, impact hydrological cycles, flora and fauna, habitats and ecosystem processes. While these ecosystems can potentially offer important services to the urban populations by providing natural areas inside cities, the constraints imposed by urbanisation and a high population density may result in the loss of those benefits. Thus, it is important to adopt a quantitative approach to assess the value of urban freshwater ecosystem services in order to enable strategic urban planning that balances urban development with the protection of these ecosystems. We have therefore performed a systematic review of Scopus database publications from 2006 to 2022 that focused on provisioning, regulating and maintenance, as well as cultural services, provided by urban river ecosystems. The screening identified 118 papers, 43% of which focused on urban stream ecosystems (stream and/or riparian area). For provisioning services, indicators were related to water and food supply, while regulation indicators were linked to water quality and flood mitigation; cultural services were mainly related to physical interactions with the ecosystems, education and aesthetic experiences. The economic valuation of urban river ecosystem services is the subject of study in 19% of the identified articles, mainly in relation to potential river restoration. Finally, 18% of articles incorporated public opinions of stakeholders and citizens, underlining the significant role of their input in understanding and managing urban river ecosystems. More studies on urban streams are needed, and standardising indicators and promoting greater citizen involvement in the evaluation of ecosystem services are challenges that remain to be overcome.