Dublin's Demand for Nature-Based Solutions
An interactive map shows where deficiencies in ecosystem services and social needs exist and can serve as a decision-support tool.
Project Outline
As cities grow and densify, ecosystem services play a significant role in the sustainable challenges associated with urbanization and climate change. In this context, Nature-Based Solutions have the potential to enhance human well-being and promote social and cultural development and climate change mitigation. Given this context, we create a spatial ecosystem service-based analysis in Dublin to understand which areas Nature-Based Solutions are most needed, considering their biophysical and social aspects.
Our first step was to gather Open data and free tools to develop six critical Ecosystem Services maps: Water Quality, Urban Cooling, Pollination, Flood Risk Mitigation, Food Provision, Carbon Storage plus one Social Deprivation Index. The next step was to combine all the information and generate a final map.
Our solution: A Decision Support Tool, that consists of a Nature-Based Solutions Demand Index, designed to showcase and explore the potential areas for Nature-Based Solution implementation - a Zoning Map. A map that identifies deficits in Ecosystem Services and Social Deprivation and turns them into opportunities for Action in terms of Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation enabling decision-making based on environmental justice in the search for a more resilient and fair Dublin.
How to interpret the map:
The red gradient colour represent areas with high demand for Nature-Based solutions and constitute areas highly urbanized and socially deprived. Green colours represent low demand and are mostly related to green infrastructure.
Who are the beneficiaries of our solution and how do they benefit from it?
The beneficiaries are the community on a local level. To restore and improve ecosystem services in urban areas is to create healthy and resilient cities that ultimately enhance human well-being. By knowing their surroundings and visualizing the impact of the natural environment, individuals, collectives and institutions can engage with solutions for strucutural changes and climate change mitigation.
Governament and Big Corporation: Support decision tool for spatial planning and implementation actions
Individuals and Community: Know your surroundings and identify challenges: Initiate a campaign. Create or engage with existing consciousness-raising groups and movements. Protest. Contact your local council. Improve your house and neighbourhood by restoring ecosystem services when possible.
This project is Open Data sourced
and made using Open and Free TOOLS
InVEST, QGIS, Mapbox and Story map *free edition
Check below the Ecosystem Services Individual Maps for detailed information.
Heat Mitigation
Luiz Silva, 202.
Flood Risk Mitigation
Luiz Silva, 2022.
Pollinators (Spring)
Luiz Silva, 2022.
Pollinators (Summer)
Luiz Silva, 2022.
Food Provision
Luiz Silva, 2022 adapted from Parker et al. (2016). National ecosystem and ecosystem service mapping pilot for a suite of prioritised services. Irish Wildlife Manuals, No. 95. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Ireland. Irish Wildlife Manual 95. https://www.npws.ie/research-projects/ecosystems-services-mapping-and-assessment
Water Quality
Luiz Silva, 2022, Adapted from Parker et al. (2016). National ecosystem and ecosystem service mapping pilot for a suite of prioritised services. Irish Wildlife Manuals, No. 95. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Ireland. Irish Wildlife Manual 95. https://www.npws.ie/research-projects/ecosystems-services-mapping-and-assessment
Vegetation Carbon Storage
Luiz Silva, 2022, Adapted from- Parker et al. (2016). National ecosystem and ecosystem service mapping pilot for a suite of prioritised services. Irish Wildlife Manuals, No. 95. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Ireland. Irish Wildlife Manual 95. https://www.npws.ie/research-projects/ecosystems-services-mapping-and-assessment
Soil Carbon Storage
Luiz Silva, 2022, Adapted from Parker et al. (2016). National ecosystem and ecosystem service mapping pilot for a suite of prioritised services. Irish Wildlife Manuals, No. 95. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Ireland. Irish Wildlife Manual 95. https://www.npws.ie/research-projects/ecosystems-services-mapping-and-assessment
Social Deprivation
*For data use agreement this content cannot be fully shared. However, the social deprivation data is incorporated in the Zoning Map. Click here to access data.
We are:
Luiz Silva. Geographer from Brazil, undertaking Master in Hazards, Cities and Spatial Planning, based in Dublin. Contact: luizfern.geo@gmail.com
Natalia Panis. Social Scientist from Brazil, undertaking Master in Art and Design for the Public Space, based in Dublin. Contact: natpanis@gmail.com
