Mapping of ecosystem services: Supply and demand for local climate regulation and nutrient regulation services

Global population growth and associated socio-economic development have led to rapid urban expansion worldwide, with management implications for sustainable natural resources and societal resilience. Natural ecosystems and the services they provide are essential for societal mitigation and adaptation to adverse environmental consequences in urban areas. Mapping ecosystem services is a valuable tool in spatial planning for urban development, as it provides a deeper understanding of complex human-natural system interactions. This study analyzed and mapped two ecosystem services (local climate regulation and nutrient regulation), which play a key role in mitigating the impacts of local and global climate change in urban areas and of nutrient loads entering surface waters. The specific cases analyzed (Amsterdam city and the Netherlands as a whole) provided insights into opportunity pathways for adaptive development and management of complex urban environments and can support policy and decision-making processes for a sustainable and resilient future.