Gradua Te Research Series

Ecosystem Services In Practice: Well-Being And Vulnerability Of Two European Urban Areas by Yaella Depietri RESEARCH SERIES GRADUATE GRADUATE PHD DISSERTATION Vol. UNU-EHS Institute for Environment and Human Security About Graduate Research Series The Graduate Research Series of the United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) publish- es outstanding dissertations of PhD researchers who have completed their studies within the research programme of the Institute. UNU-EHS conducts policy relevant research to advance human security through knowledge-based approaches to reducing vulnerability and environmental risks. A key component of its activities is the graduate education programme. It is designed to create a new generation of scientists in order to strengthen the scientific capacity especially in transitional and developing countries. The Institute provides young scientists the opportunity to work in research projects in an interdisciplinary, policy relevant context while pursuing their advanced degrees. The Graduate Research Series was established as a means to share outstanding original research from these young scholars with the wider scientific community. About the author Yaella Depietri is an Environmental Scientist and has been in the field since her bachelor degree which she started back in 1999 at the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Italy. In Jan- uary 2015, she earned a PhD in Environmen- tal Sciences at the Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology (ICTA), Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) (Spain). The PhD was carried out in collaboration with the United Nations University, Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) in Bonn (Germany) and was largely funded by the MOVE (Methods for the Improvement of Vulnerability Assessment in Europe) EU project. Before that, from 2006 to 2008, she worked as a young researcher at the Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM) (Italy) on EU projects re- lated to the socio-economics of water resources management, in particular on decision support systems, public participation and adaptation. In 2006, Yaella obtained a Master’s degree in “Sustainable Development and Mediterranean Environments” from The Université de Perpig- nan, France and in 2005 a Master’s degree in “Biogeochemical Oceanography” from The Université Aix-Marseille II, France. Her current interests are urban social-ecological systems, ecosystem services, disaster risk reduction and vulnerability assessment ECOSYSTEM SERVICES IN PRACTICE: WELL-BEING AND VULNERABILITY OF TWO EUROPEAN URBAN AREAS Yaella Depietri PhD Thesis Programme in Environmental Sciences Autonomous University of Barcelona Supervisors: Prof. Giorgos Kallis Dr. Fabrice Renaud Dr. Christos Zografos January 2015 COVER IMAGE: Aerial view of Barcelona, Spain Kol Ha'olam kulo Gesher Tsar me'od Gesher Tsar me'od Gesher Tsar me'od […] (Hebrew song) The whole world / is a very narrow bridge / a very narrow bridge / a very narrow bridge […] (Own translation) OUTLINE Abstract .................................................................................................................................14 Resumen ................................................................................................................................15 PREFACE .............................................................................................................................17 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.................................................................................................18 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................19 Background...................................................................................................................................19 Objectives and research questions..............................................................................................21 Study areas....................................................................................................................................22 Methodology..................................................................................................................................26 Theoretical Background ..............................................................................................................26 Urban areas, environmental degradation and ecosystem services.......................................26 Notes on urban ES assessment and valuation ........................................................................29 Urban form, scales and ecological performance.....................................................................31 Urban systems and disaster risk..............................................................................................32 The ecological dimension of vulnerability ..............................................................................34 Environmental vulnerability to anthropogenic degradation....................................................34 Environmental vulnerability to natural or man-made hazards................................................35 Social-ecological vulnerability to natural and man-made hazards......................................36 The concept of mutuality ........................................................................................................36 Ecosystem services and DRR .................................................................................................37 Resilience thinking and DRR..................................................................................................39 Towards integrated, social-ecological frameworks for the assessment of vulnerability to natural hazards ........................................................................................................................40 Political ecology in urban areas...............................................................................................42 Structure of the Thesis.................................................................................................................44 References .....................................................................................................................................47 CHAPTER 1 . Heat waves and ﬂoods in urban areas: a policy-oriented review of ecosystem services.................................................................................................................60 1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................61 1.1.1 Conceptual framework....................................................................................................62 1.1.2 Urban areas and ecosystem services ..............................................................................63 1.2 Heat waves...............................................................................................................................64 1.2.1 Heat waves as a hazard ...................................................................................................64 1.2.2 Urbanization as an aggravating factor ..........................................................................64 1.2.3 Climate regulation ...........................................................................................................65 1.2.4 Air quality regulation ......................................................................................................66 1.2.5 Impacts of heat waves on ecosystems in and around urban areas ..............................68 1.3 Floods.......................................................................................................................................70 1.3.1 Floods as a hazard ...........................................................................................................70 1.3.2 Impacts of urbanization on ecosystems .........................................................................71 1.3.3 Water regulation ..............................................................................................................72 The role of forests and soil......................................................................................................72 The role of wetlands................................................................................................................73 1.3.4 Impacts of floods on ecosystem services ........................................................................73 1.4 Policy initiatives for the protection of urban ecosystem services for disaster risk reduction........................................................................................................................................74 1.5 Conclusions .............................................................................................................................76 References .............................................................................................................................79 CHAPTER 2 . Social vulnerability assessment of the Cologne urban area (Germany) to heat waves: links to ecosystem services..........................................................................85 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................86 2.1.1 Vulnerability assessment .................................................................................................87

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