Ecosystem services

Introduction: Ecosystems services are the benefits that human populations derive from ecosystems, including goods and resources (e.g., food, fresh water, fuel), regulation of natural processes (e.g., soil conservation, water and climate regulation) and non-material benefits (e.g., aesthetic enjoyment, cultural values). The concept has evolved over the years and is included into the more recent concept of nature’s contributions to people, which comprises the multiple links between the environment and society that underpin human wellbeing. Urban areas largely rely on ecosystems services generated elsewhere, but urban ecosystems play a fundamental role for the health and wellbeing of the people who live therein (Gómez-Baggethun & Barton, 2013). For example, street trees contribute to regulate the local climate through shading and evapotranspiration, thus limiting the impacts of summer heatwaves; permeable surfaces reduce and delay stormwater runoff, thus contributing to prevent flooding; urban parks offer close-to-home opportunities for recreation and relaxation; while community gardens can be at the same time a source of local food and a place for social interaction.