Impact of urban green infrastructure on ecosystem services: A systematic review

Urban green infrastructure (UGI) plays a key role in providing various ecosystem services (ES), which contribute to urban residents’ well-being and sustainable city management. However, the specific ES influenced by different types of UGI and the key level of UGI that impact urban ES are not yet ful...

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Main Authors: Yunong Yao, Hua Zheng, Zhiyun Ouyang, Cheng Gong, Jian Zhang, Lingxiao Ying, Zhi Wen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Ecological Indicators
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X25008155
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author Yunong Yao
Hua Zheng
Zhiyun Ouyang
Cheng Gong
Jian Zhang
Lingxiao Ying
Zhi Wen
author_facet Yunong Yao
Hua Zheng
Zhiyun Ouyang
Cheng Gong
Jian Zhang
Lingxiao Ying
Zhi Wen
author_sort Yunong Yao
collection DOAJ
description Urban green infrastructure (UGI) plays a key role in providing various ecosystem services (ES), which contribute to urban residents’ well-being and sustainable city management. However, the specific ES influenced by different types of UGI and the key level of UGI that impact urban ES are not yet fully understood. We identified 22 ecosystem services (ES) based on the Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services and categorized urban green infrastructure (UGI) into six types. We then reviewed 235 publications to examine the relationships between UGI type, level, and ES at different levels. We found that: (1) The research predominantly focuses on “parks and (semi-)natural green spaces” and “green structures connected to gray infrastructure”. (2) At the landscape and community levels, UGI primarily enhances cultural services, influenced mainly by accessibility and area. (3) At the community and individual levels, UGI mainly supports regulating services, with key structural factors being vegetation cover, species diversity, and tree diameter at breast height (DBH) and age, respectively. The findings highlight the importance of considering differences in ES improvement across various levels of urban UGI design. These insights are valuable for the construction and management of UGI, helping to enhance urban resilience, improve ES, and elevate the overall living environment.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1470-160X
language English
publishDate 2025-09-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Ecological Indicators
spelling doaj-art-1a7f1c30b16f441bbb33f672e9260c3c2025-08-20T03:50:53ZengElsevierEcological Indicators1470-160X2025-09-0117811388510.1016/j.ecolind.2025.113885Impact of urban green infrastructure on ecosystem services: A systematic reviewYunong Yao0Hua Zheng1Zhiyun Ouyang2Cheng Gong3Jian Zhang4Lingxiao Ying5Zhi Wen6State Key Laboratory of Regional and Urban Ecology, Research Center of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Regional and Urban Ecology, Research Center of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; State Key Laboratory of Regional and Urban Ecology, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; Corresponding author at: 1799 Jimei Road, Jimei District, Xiamen 361021, China.State Key Laboratory of Regional and Urban Ecology, Research Center of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Regional and Urban Ecology, Research Center of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, ChinaSchool of Management, Chongqing University of Science and Technology, Chongqing 401331, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Regional and Urban Ecology, Research Center of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Regional and Urban Ecology, Research Center of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, ChinaUrban green infrastructure (UGI) plays a key role in providing various ecosystem services (ES), which contribute to urban residents’ well-being and sustainable city management. However, the specific ES influenced by different types of UGI and the key level of UGI that impact urban ES are not yet fully understood. We identified 22 ecosystem services (ES) based on the Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services and categorized urban green infrastructure (UGI) into six types. We then reviewed 235 publications to examine the relationships between UGI type, level, and ES at different levels. We found that: (1) The research predominantly focuses on “parks and (semi-)natural green spaces” and “green structures connected to gray infrastructure”. (2) At the landscape and community levels, UGI primarily enhances cultural services, influenced mainly by accessibility and area. (3) At the community and individual levels, UGI mainly supports regulating services, with key structural factors being vegetation cover, species diversity, and tree diameter at breast height (DBH) and age, respectively. The findings highlight the importance of considering differences in ES improvement across various levels of urban UGI design. These insights are valuable for the construction and management of UGI, helping to enhance urban resilience, improve ES, and elevate the overall living environment.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X25008155Ecosystem servicesGreen infrastructureLevelManagementUrban
spellingShingle Yunong Yao
Hua Zheng
Zhiyun Ouyang
Cheng Gong
Jian Zhang
Lingxiao Ying
Zhi Wen
Impact of urban green infrastructure on ecosystem services: A systematic review
Ecological Indicators
Ecosystem services
Green infrastructure
Level
Management
Urban
title Impact of urban green infrastructure on ecosystem services: A systematic review
title_full Impact of urban green infrastructure on ecosystem services: A systematic review
title_fullStr Impact of urban green infrastructure on ecosystem services: A systematic review
title_full_unstemmed Impact of urban green infrastructure on ecosystem services: A systematic review
title_short Impact of urban green infrastructure on ecosystem services: A systematic review
title_sort impact of urban green infrastructure on ecosystem services a systematic review
topic Ecosystem services
Green infrastructure
Level
Management
Urban
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X25008155
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AT chenggong impactofurbangreeninfrastructureonecosystemservicesasystematicreview
AT jianzhang impactofurbangreeninfrastructureonecosystemservicesasystematicreview
AT lingxiaoying impactofurbangreeninfrastructureonecosystemservicesasystematicreview
AT zhiwen impactofurbangreeninfrastructureonecosystemservicesasystematicreview