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

Authors

Timon McPhearson, The New SchoolFollow
Elizabeth Cook, Barnard CollegeFollow
Marta Berbés-Blázquez, University of WaterlooFollow
Chingwen Cheng, Arizona State UniversityFollow
Nancy B. Grimm, Arizona State UniversityFollow
Erik Andersson, Stockholm UniversityFollow
Olga Barbosa, Universidad de ChileFollow
David G. Chandler, Syracuse UniversityFollow
Heejun Chang, Portland State UniversityFollow
Mikhail Chester, Arizona State UniversityFollow
Daniel L. Childers, Arizona State University at the Tempe CampusFollow
Stephen Elser, Arizona State UniversityFollow
Niki Frantzeskaki, Utrecht UniversityFollow
Zbigniew Grabowski, University of ConnecticutFollow
Peter Groffman, Cary Institute of Ecosystem StudiesFollow
Rebecca L. Hale, Smithsonian Environmental Research CenterFollow
David M. Iwaniec, Georgia State UniversityFollow
Nadja Kabisch, Leibniz University HannoverFollow
Christopher Kennedy, The New SchoolFollow
Samuel Markolf, University of California, MercedFollow
Marissa Matsler, Cary Institute of Ecosystem StudiesFollow
Lauren E. McPhillips, The Pennsylvania State UniversityFollow
Thaddeus Miller, University of Massachusetts AmherstFollow
Tischa A. Muñoz‐Erickson, USDA Forest ServiceFollow
Emma Rosi, Cary Institute of Ecosystem StudiesFollow
Tiffany Troxler-Gann, Florida International UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-20-2022

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

Originally published in One Earth 5 (5):505-518. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2022.04.007.

Recommended Citation

McPhearson, T., E. M. Cook, M. Berbes-Blazquez, C. W. Cheng, N. B. Grimm, E. Anderson, O. Barbosa, D. G. Chandler, H. J. Chang, M. V. Chester, D. L. Childers, S. R. Elser, N. Frantzeskaki, Z. Grabowski, P. Groffman, R. L. Hale, D. M. Iwaniec, N. Kabisch, C. Kennedy, S. A. Markolf, A. M. Matsler, L. E. McPhillips, T. R. Miller, T. A. Munoz-Erickson, E. Rosi, and T. G. Troxler. 2022. "A social-ecological-technological systems framework for urban ecosystem services." One Earth 5 (5):505-518. doi: 10.1016/j.oneear.2022.04.007.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.