Ecosystem services are essential to our well-being and can improve our living conditions. Nature-based solutions are natural and semi-natural solutions that use ecosystem services for identified problems, such as stormwater management, erosion risk, cooling of air temperature on a hot day or reduced risks of flooding from heavy rains.
Nature plays a major part in human health. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), all people living in cities should not be farther away than 300 meters from the nearest green area. Research shows a clear correlation between access to green areas and well-being. At the same time, physical and mental health problems are growing problems, issues that can be mitigated by spending more time in natural environments. Access to and visits to green areas have shown to reduce stress, lower the risk of some types of cancer, and decrease blood pressure.
Ecosystem services lead to many positive effects
Ecosystems are our living green infrastructures, as essential to societies as buildings and infrastructure. In urban areas, plants and animals deliver a wide range of products and services. For example, plants give us oxygen, food, and building materials while protecting us from extreme weather. Bees and other insects pollinate our crops, and wetlands and green spaces filter heavy metals and other toxins from rain and snowwater. Trees can lower urban temperatures by 2 degrees and locally up to 9 degrees. These ecosystem services provide a myriad of benefits, such as cleaner air and water and reduced noise pollution.
Leveraging ecosystem services can also help mitigate the effects of natural disasters and extreme weather conditions. This approach is often cost-effective and multifunctional, delivering environmental, social, and economic benefits, and creating resilience. Nature-based solutions can help integrate ecosystem services into our cities. Some examples include technically advanced green roofs and facades, urban gardens or vertical farming, beekeeping, permeable surface water/rainwater/run-off from road solutions or urban wetlands, parks, and urban woods.
Ecosystem services in Sweden
In Sweden, the work to integrate these services into urban planning for smart cities is an ongoing process and has led to many examples of innovative solutions and collaborations between sectors and national, regional, and local authorities. By perceiving and valuing ecosystem services, we can affect our future well-being and quality of life.
Sweden strives towards integrating the benefits of ecosystem services in several sectors of urban planning and the long-term management of cities. Integrating ecosystem services in urban development is an important way to advance towards several of the Sustainable Development Goals, especially goals number 3. Good health and well-being, 6. Clean water and sanitation, 11. Sustainable cities and communities 12. Sustainable consumption and production, 13. Climate action, and 15. Life on land.
Introduction to Green Infrastructure
