Ecosystem services supplied by urban green corridors with varying degrees of community involvement

Ensuring the provision of and access to ecosystem services is crucial to environmental health and human well-being. This study assesses the potential of urban green corridors (UGCs) to accommodate diverse interests, including by supplying ecosystem services, highlighting emerging socio-ecological conflicts. Five global UGCs are analysed as case studies through an ecosystem service assessment. A mixed qualitative and quantitative methodology is applied. The role of local communities is explored in context with the ecosystem service results. The key findings indicate that multiple ecosystem services such as local climate regulation, air quality regulation, flood protection, pollination, and recreational and aesthetic values can be supplied by these UGCs, while some provide educational and scientific research opportunities. However, the UGCs vary in their potential supply of ecosystem services due to unique case-specific characteristics. Achieving a balance between ecological and societal needs remains challenging due to conflicting interests, while infrastructure is often being prioritised, resulting in critical ecological impacts. Limited financial resources, expertise, and stakeholder collaboration challenge the long-term management of UGCs that impacts the supply of ecosystem services. The public's use of these spaces can result in disturbances and conflicts impacting the supply of ecosystem services. UGCs have the potential to serve as multifunctional spaces that address societal needs by providing ecosystem services and other benefits, such as connectivity and supporting social interaction and active mobility. However, further site-specific research is needed to investigate and enhance the supply of ecosystem services, including interactions between ecosystem services.