Green infrastructure spatial planning considering ecosystem services assessment and trade-off analysis. Application at landscape scale in Galicia region (NW Spain)

Abstract

Green Infrastructure (GI) is increasingly being adopted in land management as a way of ensuring provision of the ecosystem services (ESS) required for human well-being. As GI is a spatial concept, spatial planning methods must be applied in designing GI. Many studies have focused on designing certain GI zones or on planning a GI specifically considering one or a few ESS. However, studies on GI planning considering all types of ESS and different GI zones are scarce. This paper describes a methodology that addresses the holistic spatial planning of GI by considering the potential capacity of areas to provide all of the ESS assessed. Buffer zones and multifunctional zones were delineated by using a specific procedure for each zone at landscape scale. The spatial planning of buffer areas and multifunctional zones was based on the analysis of trade-offs between ESS and on the integration of synergic ESS by means of a multicriteria evaluation technique. The methodology was validated by application to the spatial planning of a GI in the region of Galicia at landscape level. Integration of the results of ESS assessment in a multifunctional GI makes land planning and management easier and ensures provision of all types of ESS.