Urban Land Systems: An Ecosystems Perspective

Abstract

We live in an urbanizing world. Since 2008, more than half of humanity lives in cities, both large and small, and old and new.[...]

Linking Social Perception and Provision of Ecosystem Services in a Sprawling Urban Landscape: A Case Study of Multan, Pakistan

“…To test this assumption, we carried out a survey-based study to inquire the perception of the citizens of Multan about changes in the ecosystem services, and their belief of urban sprawl as an agent of the observed changes in ecosystem services. Evidence suggests that urban sprawl has obvious effects on ecosystem services, such as water quality, microclimate, green spaces, and biodiversity [60]. Previous studies have suggested that urban vegetation is an important indicator of urban ecosystem health and is often seen as a measure of the quality and provision of urban ecosystem services [60,61].…”

“…Evidence suggests that urban sprawl has obvious effects on ecosystem services, such as water quality, microclimate, green spaces, and biodiversity [60]. Previous studies have suggested that urban vegetation is an important indicator of urban ecosystem health and is often seen as a measure of the quality and provision of urban ecosystem services [60,61]. Urban green spaces are often strongly correlated to landscape aesthetics and psychological health of the citizens [62].…”

“…Subsequently, the survey results suggested that citizens of Multan strongly believe that air and water quality and green spaces have reduced in the recent past, which corresponds to the assumption that decreasing vegetation cover has obvious effects on the quality and provision of ecosystem services. Similarly, urban infrastructure can influence the urban microclimate by increasing air pollution, creating heat stress, changing wind direction and speed, and altering surface ozone concentration [60,63]. Urban sprawl has been reported to increase the urban temperature, a phenomenon known as the Urban Heat Island Effect [60].…”

“…Similarly, urban infrastructure can influence the urban microclimate by increasing air pollution, creating heat stress, changing wind direction and speed, and altering surface ozone concentration [60,63]. Urban sprawl has been reported to increase the urban temperature, a phenomenon known as the Urban Heat Island Effect [60]. Spatial analysis of Multan city indicated a rapid expansion of the footprint in the last couple of decades, and the effects of this expansion were reflected in the survey study where the citizens not only showed strong agreement that the urban temperature of Multan has increased but also agreed that the increasing urban temperature is strongly correlated to the urban sprawl.…”

Unravelling the Frontiers of Urban Growth: Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Land-Use Change and Urban Expansion in Greater Accra Metropolitan Area, Ghana

“…Urbanization 1 -driven land-use change has emerged as a pervasive megatrend and component of environmental change, courting rigorous scientific enquiry both on local and global scales [1]. Current processes and spatial patterns of urban expansion strongly induce the conversion of natural landscape to urban/built-up area, thereby causing rapid changes in land use [2][3][4]. As urban populations continue to grow as projected to exceed 60% by 2030 [5], urban areas will remain in a dynamic state of expansion and, as such, relentless changes in land use will intensify in ways that require constant investigation [6].…”