Influence of Urban Trees on the Provision of Ecosystem Services
A Case Study in Boadilla del Monte, Spain
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22415908 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Francesco Busca (0000-0003-2216-2281, Politecnico di Torino), Roberto Revelli (0000-0001-9704-260X, Politecnico di Torino), Miguel Gómez Villarino (0000-0002-2887-6077, Melissa Environmental Consulting and Engineering), Jesús López-Santiago (0000-0002-7880-2017, Univ. Politécnica de Madrid), María Teresa Gómez-Villarino (0000-0002-8720-3593, Univ. Politécnica de Madrid) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 152 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Publication date | 2026-09-01 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Urban Planning and Development (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0733-9488 • E-ISSN: 1943-5444 |
| Publisher | American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1061/jupddm.upeng-5815 |
| OpenAlex | W7161119459 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 47 |
Urban green infrastructure can be considered a useful tool to improve the environmental, social, and cultural aspects of the city. While numerous studies have analyzed the contribution of green features to urban environments, further research is needed to determine the specific characteristics these infrastructures should have to maximize their benefits. This paper analyzes the ecosystem services provided by trees, a specific category of urban green infrastructure, of Boadilla del Monte (Spain) and their influence on climate change adaptation of the city in an applied research, which quantitatively demonstrates the importance of urban trees in the design of environmentally sustainable and socially resilient cities. i-Tree Eco software (version 6.0.31) was implemented on the inventory of more than 33,000 trees spread among the 28 urban districts of the city, together with the environmental offices of the municipality. Moreover, the efficiency of more than 100 tree species and the contribution by urban neighborhoods were discussed within the context of future territorial planning of the city. Finally, the benefits provided were evaluated and compared with the estimated annual costs. Although focused on a Spanish municipality, the methodology, analysis, and cost–benefit framework presented are applicable to other medium-sized cities worldwide, particularly in Mediterranean, semiarid, and temperate climates. By quantifying and economically valuing the ecosystem services provided by urban trees, this approach can support decision makers and engage citizens in designing greener, climate-resilient, and socially inclusive cities.
Climate change · Ecosystem · Ecosystem services · Urban ecosystem · Urbanization · Land Use and Ecosystem Services · Urban Agriculture and Sustainability · Urban Green Space and Health
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| Highly cited | No |
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