| Urban green spaces (UGS) and the ecosystem services (ES) they provide play a significant role in the quality of life of urban residents and in the formation of sustainable cities. As the last remnants of vegetation in the urban environment, these spaces are endangered by urban sprawl and re-densification development. UGS, as part of larger green infrastructure networks, provide ecological and cultural services to both local and regional urban populations. The protection and management of UGS and their associated ES is fundamental for urban land use planning in the 21st century. This study proposes and evaluates an UGS land use suitability model that aims to identify current green space resources and determine suitable land uses for those spaces in order to enhance potential ES capacity. The model allows for a participatory process and is applied in this research to Syracuse, New York. |
