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Site-specific factors in the production of local urban ecosystem services: A case study of community-managed green space

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  • Dennis, M.
  • James, P.

Abstract

Pockets of green space in cities can provide important ecosystem services for urban residents. As naturalistic spaces in urban areas become increasingly sparse, communities are beginning to co-manage existing incidental pockets of land towards the creation of communal natural resources. Such green commons can be productive in terms of ecosystem services through targeted management such as in the case of urban agriculture. Although some work has been done to explore the motives behind and potential benefits of informal green space management, further research is required to understand those characteristics of site management and community input which contribute to the enhancement of site-specific ecosystem service production. A case study of ten examples of community-managed green space was undertaken to evaluate the contributory factors relating to site character and management which influenced productivity as defined by the cumulative provision of four urban-relevant ecosystem services. The analysis revealed that the level of community involvement, measured as intensity of volunteer hours, was highly instrumental in the productivity of sites. Food production also proved to be catalytic for the enhancement of ecosystem services whereas extent of vegetative cover and increasing site size were, counter-intuitively, detrimental to overall site productivity. The study therefore supports the promotion of participatory approaches to the management of ecosystems services in urban areas, particularly those which take small-scale urban agriculture as a primary practice.

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  • Dennis, M. & James, P., 2016. "Site-specific factors in the production of local urban ecosystem services: A case study of community-managed green space," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 17(C), pages 208-216.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecoser:v:17:y:2016:i:c:p:208-216
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoser.2016.01.003
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    5. Dennis, Matthew & James, Philip, 2017. "Ecosystem services of collectively managed urban gardens: Exploring factors affecting synergies and trade-offs at the site level," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 26(PA), pages 17-26.
    6. Dickinson, Dawn C. & Hobbs, Richard J., 2017. "Cultural ecosystem services: Characteristics, challenges and lessons for urban green space research," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 25(C), pages 179-194.
    7. Chia-Han Yang & Ying-Chyi Chou & Van Thac Dang & Jing-Shoung Hou & Chang-Chan Huang & Ching-Hua Lu, 2018. "Analyzing the Optimal Level of Biotope Quality and Cost Planning for Sustainable Development in Regional Tourism: Study of B&B Houses in Taiwan," International Journal of Business and Economics, School of Management Development, Feng Chia University, Taichung, Taiwan, vol. 17(1), pages 73-94, June.
    8. Dennis, Matthew & James, Philip, 2016. "Considerations in the valuation of urban green space: Accounting for user participation," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 21(PA), pages 120-129.
    9. Dennis, M. & James, P., 2018. "Urban Social-ecological Innovation: Implications for Adaptive Natural Resource Management," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 153-164.
    10. Herlin Chien, 2022. "Evaluating impacts of researchers to enable sustainability transition: using urban ecosystem service literature as an exemplary field," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(2), pages 2345-2361, February.
    11. Sina Razzaghi Asl & Hamil Pearsall, 2022. "How Do Different Modes of Governance Support Ecosystem Services/Disservices in Small-Scale Urban Green Infrastructure? A Systematic Review," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-21, August.
    12. Mardones D., Cristián, 2019. "Short- and long-term ex post evaluation of community-based environmental initiatives in Chile," Revista CEPAL, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL), August.

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