Importance of Ecosystem Services in Cities: Review of Publications From 2003 to 2015.

Abstract

Nowadays the understanding of urban parks as important elements for environmental quality and social life in large cities is relevant, because of the different ecosystem services they provide to society such as thermal comfort, carbon dioxide absorption and control noise and air pollution, protection of water resources, among others. The ecosystem services offered by urban parks provide the welfare for population; they are spaces for leisure and sports activities; besides having their relevance for the study and conservation of nature. This study aimed to conduct a literature review on the study, contributions and importance of ecosystem services in urban areas; to achieve this, scientific articles from the Web of Science database, over the past 12 years (2003-2015) were consulted, using the following keywords (in English): "ecosystem services" and "urban areas", "ecosystem services" and "urban park", "environmental services" and "urban park", "environmental services" and "city". Few studies on ecosystem services are made in cities, mostly in natural or rural areas. The main contributions found in scientific papers highlight: studies related to characterization of biodiversity, maintenance of river sources, carbon storage, and carbon dioxide absorption, increased permeability of the soil, urban planning and sustainability, payments for environmental services, valuing landscape and cultural cities, and quality of life of population. In conclusion, it is necessary to increase efforts for a better understanding of the dynamics of urban ecosystems and their services to support better urban planning strategies with sustainability criteria.