A social-ecological-technological systems framework for urban ecosystem services

Authors

• Timon McPhearson, Urban Systems Lab, The New School, New York, NYFollow
• Elizabeth M. Cook, Environmental Science Department, Barnard College, New York, NY
• Marta Berbés-Blázquez, School of Planning and Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
• Chingwen Cheng, The Design School, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
• Nancy B. Grimm, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
• Erik Andersson, Stockholm Resilience Center, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
• Olga Barbosa, Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
• David G. Chandler, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
• Heejun Chang, Department of Geography, Portland State University, Portland, OR
• Mikhail V. Chester, Metis Center for Infrastructure and Sustainable Engineering, School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
• Daniel L. Childers, School of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
• Stephen R. Elser, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
• Niki Frantzeskaki, Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
• Zbigniew Grabowski, Urban Systems Lab, The New School, New York, NY
• Peter M. Groffman, CUNY Advanced Science Research CenterFollow
• Rebecca L. Hale, Department of Biological Sciences, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID
• David M. Iwaniec, Urban Studies Institute, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
• Nadja Kabisch, Institute of Physical Geography and Landscape Ecology, Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover, Germany
• Christopher Kennedy, Urban Systems Lab, The New School, New York, NY
• Samuel A. Markolf, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Merced, CA
• A. Marissa Matsler, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY
• Lauren E. McPhillips, Departments of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
• Thaddeus R. Miller, School of Public Policy, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
• Tischa A. Muñoz-Erickson, International Urban Field Station, International Institute of Tropical Forestry, USDA Forest Service, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico
• Emma Rosi, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY
• Tiffany G. Troxler, Department of Earth and Environment and Sea Level Solutions Center, Institute of Environment, Florida International University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-5-2022

Abstract

As rates of urbanization and climatic change soar, decision-makers are increasingly challenged to provide innovative solutions that simultaneously address climate change impacts and risks and inclusively ensure quality of life for urban residents. Cities have turned to nature-based solutions to help address these challenges. Nature-based solutions, through the provision of ecosystem services, can yield numerous benefits for people and address multiple challenges simultaneously. Yet, efforts to mainstream nature-based solutions are impaired by the complexity of the interacting social, ecological, and technological dimensions of urban systems. This complexity must be understood and managed to ensure ecosystem-service provisioning is effective, equitable, and resilient. Here, we provide a social-ecological-technological system (SETS) framework that builds on decades of urban ecosystem services research to better understand four core challenges associated with urban nature-based solutions: multi-functionality, systemic valuation, scale mismatch of ecosystem services, and inequity and injustice. The framework illustrates the importance of coordinating natural, technological, and socio-economic systems when designing, planning, and managing urban nature-based solutions to enable optimal social-ecological outcomes.

Comments

This article was originally published in One Earth, available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2022.04.007

This work is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0).