The multi-functional value of urban green infrastructure: a comprehensive and systematic review

摘要: Nature Based Solutions or Low Impact Development techniques such as green roofs, permeable pavements, bioretention systems, among others, have been studied for decades and considered worldwide as promising alternatives for more sustainable and effective urban drainage systems. Even so, there is still some reluctance to its wider adoption by public and private decision makers, especially in the Global South, due to its supposed higher costs and complexity compared to traditional stormwater control measures. In this study, we look to the big picture to add evidence on all ecosystem services provided by the Urban Green Infrastructure, supporting public discussion and land managers’ decisions on adopting LID. The systematic review considered research of keywords related to quantification methods of ecosystem services provided by urban green and blue infrastructure, and 742 studies were selected for analysis. Most studies came from researchers affiliated to institutions from the Global North; the techniques most frequently studied are urban green areas and green roofs; the most frequent benefits were related to climate, socio-cultural and water quality; methods most common are GIS and monitoring, applied in the spatial scale of cities and neighborhoods. Main gaps identified are related to the estimation of multiple benefits provided by LID, studies comparing Global North and South realities, and studies evaluating ecosystem services of green areas integrated with LID and urban waters.