A Novel Approach for the Assessment of Cities through Ecosystem Integrity

Ian MacGregor-Fors, Ina Falfán, Michelle García-Arroyo, Richard Lemoine-Rodríguez, Miguel A. Gómez-Martínez, Oscar H. Marín-Gómez, Octavio Pérez-Maqueo and Miguel Equihua
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Ian MacGregor-Fors: Red de Ambiente y Sustentabilidad, Instituto de Ecología, A.C. (INECOL), Xalapa 91073, Mexico
Ina Falfán: Red de Ambiente y Sustentabilidad, Instituto de Ecología, A.C. (INECOL), Xalapa 91073, Mexico
Michelle García-Arroyo: Red de Ambiente y Sustentabilidad, Instituto de Ecología, A.C. (INECOL), Xalapa 91073, Mexico
Richard Lemoine-Rodríguez: Institute of Geography, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany
Miguel A. Gómez-Martínez: Instituto de Biotecnología y Ecología Aplicada (INBIOTECA), Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa 91090, Mexico
Oscar H. Marín-Gómez: Red de Ambiente y Sustentabilidad, Instituto de Ecología, A.C. (INECOL), Xalapa 91073, Mexico
Octavio Pérez-Maqueo: Red de Ambiente y Sustentabilidad, Instituto de Ecología, A.C. (INECOL), Xalapa 91073, Mexico
Miguel Equihua: Red de Ambiente y Sustentabilidad, Instituto de Ecología, A.C. (INECOL), Xalapa 91073, Mexico

Land, 2021, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: To tackle urban heterogeneity and complexity, several indices have been proposed, commonly aiming to provide information for decision-makers. In this study, we propose a novel and customizable procedure for quantifying urban ecosystem integrity. Based on a citywide approach, we developed an easy-to-use index that contrasts physical and biological variables of urban ecosystems with a given reference system. The Urban Ecosystem Integrity Index (UEII) is the sum of the averages from the variables that make up its intensity of urbanization and biological components. We applied the UEII in a Mexican tropical city using land surface temperature, built cover, and the richness of native plants and birds. The overall ecosystem integrity of the city, having montane cloud, tropical dry, and temperate forests as reference systems, was low (−0.34 ± SD 0.32), showing that, beyond its biodiverse greenspace network, the built-up structure highly differs from the ecosystems of reference. The UEII showed to be a flexible and easy-to-calculate tool to evaluate ecosystem integrity for cities, allowing for comparisons between or among cities, as well as the sectors/regions within cities. If used properly, the index could become a useful tool for decision making and resource allocation at a city level.

Keywords: citywide; ecological integrity; integrity index; species retention; urban ecology; urbanization intensity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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