L6_ES_EJ

Important Concepts in Ecosystem Services

• Distinction Between Amenities and Services

  • Separate the "thing" (Amenity) from the service.

  • Amenities can provide multiple services.

• Interactions and Trade-offs

  • Interactions exist among services and may include trade-offs.

  • Disservices must also be recognized.

• Role of People

  • Individuals decide what constitutes a service or disservice.

  • Management can be implemented to maximize benefits and minimize burdens across multiple ecosystem services.

Managing for Ecosystem Services

• Food Deserts and Community Initiatives

  • Some neighborhoods are classified as food deserts.

  • Community groups promote gardening to deliver multiple ecosystem services.

• Potential Risks

  • Trade-offs include potential exposure to soil lead from urban gardening initiatives.

  • Alternatives include investigating how people perceive and manage ecosystem (dis)services.

Assessing Garden Locations

• Questions posed:

  • Where is the lead located?

  • Where is the optimal location for planting vegetable gardens?

  • Areas of consideration: Property, House, Garage, Trees.

Perception and Community Preferences

• Influence of Location on Services Provided by Amenities

  • Personal opinions impact the acceptance of amenities like trees.

  • Example: Mrs. Joseph Lisiecki's resistance to trees in front of her city home.

Effects of Tree Locations on Services

• Effectiveness of Trees as an Amenity

  • Service provided by trees varies by amount and location:

    • No Effect

    • Low Effect

    • Medium Effect

    • High Effect

Interaction Effects on Ecosystem Services

• Influence of Proximity to Parks

  • Assessment of proximity to parks in relation to safety and property values.

  • Crime index relative to the national average influences perception of park location benefits.

Planting Strategies in Sacramento, CA

• Tree Planting Locations

  • Evidence from NLCD 2001 regarding optimal tree planting strategies to enhance ecosystem services.

Urban Heat Exposure and Vegetation

• Influence of Vegetation on City Heat Variation

  • Study shows correlation of heat exposure with land surface temperature in Baltimore by census block.

• Vegetation Distribution

  • More woody vegetation observed in areas with lower temperatures.

  • Breakdown of temperature exposure:

    • None (0%)

    • Low (1-10%)

    • Medium (11-35%)

    • High (36-75%)

    • Very High (>75%)

Socioeconomic Impacts of Urban Heat

• Correlation of Income and Heat Distribution

  • Hotter urban areas typically have lower median household income.

Management Strategies for Urban Heat

• Identification of Hotspots

  • Patterns of urban heat and household income recognized to inform mitigation strategies.

  • Strategies can be tailored based on funding availability to account for vulnerable populations.

Summary of Key Ideas in Ecosystem Services

• Distinction between amenities and services, with critical evaluation of trade-offs.

• Importance of equitable distribution of services rather than homogeneity of amenity distribution.

Understanding Legacies in Urban Systems

• Definition and Importance of Legacies

  • Legacies refer to the influence of historical land cover, use, and policies on current ecosystem structures and functions.

• Components of Legacy Impact

  • Factors include prior land use, vegetation structure, management history, and policies.

Case Studies on Land Use Legacies

• Chesapeake Bay Example

  • Historical deforestation and subsequent land use changes impact aquatic life through sedimentation and nutrient loading.

• Urban Land Use Changes

  • Examples in urban contexts reveal how past land uses shape present urban form and ecosystem characteristics.

Historical Influences on Urban Layout

• Examples from historical urban development explain irregularities in city grids due to past ownership and geographical factors.

Legacy of Policy and its Effects

• Redlining and Housing Quality

  • The 1937 redlining policy influenced urban development, impacting density, race, and loan accessibility.

• Contemporary Outcomes of Historical Policies

  • Patterns of vacancy and population density associated with historical risk ratings.

Current Challenges and Future Considerations

• Addressing Urban Changes

  • Consideration of current ecological and policy changes that may shape future urban structures and functions.