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Assessing Net Environmental and Economic Impacts of Urban Forests: An Online Decision Support Tool

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  • Javier Babí Almenar

    (RDI Unit on Environmental Sustainability Assessment and Circularity, Environmental Research & Innovation (ERIN) Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Maison de l’Innovation, 5 Avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, L-4362 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
    Institute of Molecular Sciences, University of Bordeaux, 351, Cours de la Liberation, F-33400 Talence, France
    Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Via Mesiano, 77, I-38123 Trento, Italy)

  • Claudio Petucco

    (RDI Unit on Environmental Sustainability Assessment and Circularity, Environmental Research & Innovation (ERIN) Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Maison de l’Innovation, 5 Avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, L-4362 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg)

  • Tomás Navarrete Gutiérrez

    (RDI Unit on Environmental Sustainability Assessment and Circularity, Environmental Research & Innovation (ERIN) Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Maison de l’Innovation, 5 Avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, L-4362 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg)

  • Laurent Chion

    (RDI Unit on Environmental Sustainability Assessment and Circularity, Environmental Research & Innovation (ERIN) Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Maison de l’Innovation, 5 Avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, L-4362 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg)

  • Benedetto Rugani

    (RDI Unit on Environmental Sustainability Assessment and Circularity, Environmental Research & Innovation (ERIN) Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Maison de l’Innovation, 5 Avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, L-4362 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg)

Abstract

Nature-based solutions (NBS) are becoming popular in urban planning and policy making as cost-effective solutions capable of delivering multiple ecosystem services and addressing several societal challenges. So far, however, the cost-effectiveness of urban NBS projects has not been consistently quantified by built environment professionals, who lack user-friendly tools to account for the environmental costs and benefits of NBS. This paper presents a prototype online decision support tool (NBenefit$ ® ) that calculates the negative and positive environmental impacts, externalities, and financial values of planned urban forests over their entire life cycle. NBenefit$ relies on a modelling framework that combines system dynamics, urban ecology, and life cycle thinking approaches, and it is presented as a visual web-based interface. An online map and a grid of cells is used to map the site of intervention, to delineate the size of the urban forest, and to define variations in abiotic, biotic, and management attributes in each site. Outputs are provided by year, for the entire site and NBS life cycle. The potential value of NBenefit$ as a supporting tool was exemplified with the calculation of 48 urban forest archetypes, a few of which were used to set scenarios for a hypothetical urban forest in Madrid (Spain). The results showcase the impact that decisions taken during the planning, design, or management of an NBS project may have on its long-term performance. Future works will expand the scope of NBenefit$, including other types of urban NBS.

Suggested Citation

  • Javier Babí Almenar & Claudio Petucco & Tomás Navarrete Gutiérrez & Laurent Chion & Benedetto Rugani, 2022. "Assessing Net Environmental and Economic Impacts of Urban Forests: An Online Decision Support Tool," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-27, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:12:y:2022:i:1:p:70-:d:1015672
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    References listed on IDEAS

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