TOOLS

SUB-URBAN ECOSYSTEM PAYMENTS

TURAS expert contact:
Aleksandar Slaev

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GUIDELINES (INCLUDING TOOLKIT) FOR ASSESSING THE VALUE OF THE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES PROVIDED BY NATURAL AREAS/GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE IN SUBURBAN LOCATIONS

Urban-regional challenges

loss of biodiversity heat stress flooding sprawl underused urban assets lack of community capital knowledge fragmentation inefficient resource management lack of green spaces traffic congestion urban-rural interdependency climate change housing shortage silo thinking economic decline pollution

TURAS transition approaches

rethinking urban governace reorganizing local economies strengthening community capacity renaturing the city building robust infrastructure adapting to climate change reducing land consumption encouraging sustainable behav...

Place-based visions

sustainable urban structures inclusive communities ecologically effective urban ... resilient infrastructure economic opportunities adaptive governance structures CO2 neutral metabolism

Governance approaches

science practice transfer new (local) economic models interdisciplinary collaboration participation & civic engagement linking regional & local proj... governing the commons risk governance

What is the challenge

Suburbanization and urban sprawl are typical patterns of growing European cities. Whereas the growth of cities is principally a powerful positive trend, urban expansion is associated with various negative trends. This is due to urban sprawl is characterized by accelerated rates of soil sealing, over-consumption of land and loss of natural environment, and loss of agricultural resources. In turn, the loss of natural and rural land results in loss of greenery and biodiversity, contamination of the air, soils and waters, loss of opportunities to develop agriculture in close proximity to big cities, and loss of natural landscapes.

WHY DO WE HAVE THIS CHALLENGE?

The main reason for the overconsumption of the above-mentioned resources (natural land, greenery, landscapes, environment, biodiversity, and agricultural land) is that natural amenities in suburban areas are underpriced or unpriced, mainly because natural amenities are open-source resources. To solve such a problem, the establishment of public property rights and a relevant regime of use is essential.

TURAS Solutions

The first step towards the establishment of a relevant regime of use is to assess the value of resources, and to this end, a system of payments for natural resources is the most efficient way to regulate their consumption. Among the variety of ways to assess the value of natural resource amenities, ecosystem services are considered to be the most comprehensive approach.

THIS TOOL FOCUSES ON:

institutional sustainability, economic sustainability , ecological sustainability

TYPE OF MAIN OUTCOME / BENEFIT:

economic benefit, process innovation, physical improvements

HOW TO REALISE THE TRANSITION?

WHO SHOULD BE INVOLVED?

FACILITATORY (PUBLIC) BODIES:
planning and development department; socio-economic development department; land use planning department; environmental and sustainability department; green spaces department; policy development department

LOCAL TASK FORCE:
local or regional authority; professional expert

SUITABLE FOR:
urban region; urban-rural interface

MAIN NECESSARY RESOURCES ARE:
public institutional set-up; legal legitimisation; expert knowledge

TRANSITION INITIATED

Please get in touch with our expert contact for additional material’