Social-ecological and technological factors moderate the value of urban nature

Keeler, Bonnie L.; Hamel, Perrine; McPhearson, Timon; Hamann, Maike; Donahue, Marie L.; Prado, Kelly A. Meza; Arkema, Katie K.; Bratman, Gregory N.; Brauman, Kate A.; Finlay, Jacques C.; Guerry, Anne D.; Hobbie, Sarah E.; Johnson, Justin A.; MacDonald, Graham K.; McDonald, Robert I.; Neverisky, Nick; Wood, Spencer A.

doi:10.1038/s41893-018-0202-1

Cited by 371 publications

(237 citation statements)

References 124 publications

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“…(a) Managing social impacts using nature-based strategies Many NBS to manage and adapt to climate change (table 1) have potential social co-benefits. For example, access and exposure to green space in cities improves aspects of mental and physical health [5,113,114]. Urban green space also has been linked to social benefits such as reduced violence and crime, although conflicting results indicate a need to understand mechanisms underlying potential links as well as for standardized approaches to quantifying them [113,115].…”

Section: Managing and Adapting To Social Ecological And Technical Immentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There is increasing interest among city practitioners in using 'nature-based' strategies [2], a broad suite of actions aimed at promoting human well-being in cities using approaches that restore aspects of 'natural' (non-urban) ecosystem structure and/or function. These strategies are seen as more flexible, multifunctional and adaptable to an uncertain climate future than traditional, more rigid, approaches [3][4][5]. Herein, we review the potential for naturebased strategies (NBS) to reduce climate change hazards in cities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nature-based approaches to managing climate change impacts in cities

Hobbie

Grimm

2020

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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189

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Managing and adapting to climate change in urban areas will become increasingly important as urban populations grow, especially because unique features of cities amplify climate change impacts. High impervious cover exacerbates impacts of climate warming through urban heat island effects and of heavy rainfall by magnifying runoff and flooding. Concentration of human settlements along rivers and coastal zones increases exposure of people and infrastructure to climate change hazards, often disproportionately affecting those who are least prepared. Nature-based strategies (NBS), which use living organisms, soils and sediments, and/or landscape features to reduce climate change hazards, hold promise as being more flexible, multi-functional and adaptable to an uncertain and non-stationary climate future than traditional approaches. Nevertheless, future research should address the effectiveness of NBS for reducing climate change impacts and whether they can be implemented at scales appropriate to climate change hazards and impacts. Further, there is a need for accurate and comprehensive cost–benefit analyses that consider disservices and co-benefits, relative to grey alternatives, and how costs and benefits are distributed across different communities. NBS are most likely to be effective and fair when they match the scale of the challenge, are implemented with input from diverse voices and are appropriate to specific social, cultural, ecological and technological contexts. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Climate change and ecosystems: threats, opportunities and solutions’.

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Section: Managing and Adapting To Social Ecological And Technical Immentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nature-based approaches to managing climate change impacts in cities

Hobbie

Grimm

2020

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

Self Cite

189

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“…In urban environments, ecohydrologists and other scientists are increasingly called upon to assess the benefits and costs of trees and other green infrastructure for stormwater management, heat‐stress mitigation, nutrient control, and many other benefits (e.g., Berland et al, 2017; Dadvand & Nieuwenhuijsen, 2019; Ellison et al, 2017; Keeler et al, 2019; Kuehni, Bou‐Zeid, Webb, & Shokri, 2016; Ramamurthy & Bou‐Zeid, 2014; Ramamurthy & Bou‐Zeid, 2017; Rugel, Carpiano, Henderson, & Brauer, 2019; Zölch, Maderspacher, Wamsler, & Pauleit, 2016). Similarly, there is growing interest in understanding the potential for agricultural patterns and practices to provide cobenefits, such as for nutrient management, carbon storage, and groundwater recharge (e.g., Chaplin‐Kramer et al, 2015; Dahlke, Brown, Orloff, Putnam, & O'Geen, 2018; Smith, Tetzlaff, Gelbrecht, Kleine, & Soulsby, 2020).…”

Section: Advancing Understanding and Representation Of Ecohydrologicamentioning

confidence: 99%

Advancing ecohydrology in the 21st century: A convergence of opportunities

et al. 2020

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Nature-based solutions for water-resource challenges require advances in the science of ecohydrology. Current understanding is limited by a shortage of observations and theories that can further our capability to synthesize complex processes across scales ranging from submillimetres to tens of kilometres. Recent developments in environmental sensing, data, and modelling have the potential to drive rapid improvements in ecohydrological understanding. After briefly reviewing advances in sensor technologies, this paper highlights how improved measurements and modelling can be applied to enhance understanding of the following ecohydrological examples: interception and canopy processes, root uptake and critical zone processes, and up-scaled effects of land use on streamflow. Novel and improved sensors will enable new questions and experiments, while machine learning and empirical methods provide additional opportunities to advance science. The synergy resulting from the convergence of these parallel developments will provide new insight into ecohydrological processes and thereby help identify nature-based solutions to address water-resource challenges in the 21st century.

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“…With urbanization, the area of impervious surfaces is increased, which can lead to increased flooding and groundwater shortages [1][2][3][4]. Plants, especially tree roots, can enhance soil permeability, which plays a significant role in stormwater management [5,6]. Plant roots also increase infiltration and reduce runoff, which help mitigate flooding and recharge groundwater [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Increase and Spatial Variation in Soil Infiltration Rates Associated with Fibrous and Tap Tree Roots

Zhang

Wang

Guo

et al. 2019

Water

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Trees play important roles in urban stormwater management; through the loosening of soils by root growth, they increase infiltration and reduce runoff, helping to mitigate flooding and recharge groundwater. Malus baccata with fibrous roots and Sophora japonica with tap roots were studied experimentally to assess their enhancement of soil infiltration. A blank test without a tree was conducted for comparison. Steady-state soil infiltration rates at the bottom of test tanks were measured as 0.28 m/d, 0.33 m/d, and 0.61 m/d for the blank test, M. baccata, and S. japonica, respectively. This represents a 19% increase in the infiltration rate by planting M. baccata and a 118% increase by planting S. japonica. A larger increase in the infiltration rate by S. japonica is consistent with the effects of deeper and more vertical roots that help loosen deeper soils. Spatial variations in soil infiltration rates were also measured. Infiltration rates for M. baccata (1.06 m/d and 0.62 m/d) were larger than those for S. japonica (0.91 m/d and 0.51 m/d) at the same depths (0.35 m and 0.70 m); this is consistent with the expected effects of the shallower and more lateral roots of M. baccata. This study furthers our understanding of the roles of trees in watersheds and urban environments.

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Social-ecological and technological factors moderate the value of urban nature

Cited by 371 publications

References 124 publications

Nature-based approaches to managing climate change impacts in cities

Nature-based approaches to managing climate change impacts in cities

Advancing ecohydrology in the 21st century: A convergence of opportunities

Increase and Spatial Variation in Soil Infiltration Rates Associated with Fibrous and Tap Tree Roots

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