Assessing Urban Greenway Ecosystem Services

Project Title

Assessment of Ecosystem Services in the Raleigh Urban Greenway System

Project Description

Urban forests provide essential ecosystem services to large numbers of people and play an increasingly vital role in controlling air pollution, moderating city temperatures, providing recreation opportunities, and even creating biodiversity habitat as cities expand across the southeastern United States. However, urban forest services are not always equitably distributed across neighborhoods. This project will examine and quantify the ecosystem services provided by the Raleigh urban greenway system. It will also assess any disparities across different socioeconomic neighborhoods.

Principal Investigators

Meredith Martin (Director)
Jennifer Richmond-Bryant
Zakiya Leggett
Kelly Oten

Expected Outcomes

This project will benefit users of the Raleigh urban greenway system, urban forestry managers across the southeastern U.S., and community members in Raleigh neighborhoods across multiple socioeconomic categories in the city of Raleigh.

• Increased scientific understanding of the role of urban forests in providing ecosystem services — from carbon sequestration to biodiversity.
• First-ever assessment of on whether and how ecosystems services are distributed equitably among diverse neighborhoods along the greenway.
• Targeted and actionable management recommendations for improving the delivery of ecosystem services across neighborhoods connected by the greenway system.
• External outreach to increase public understanding of the role that urban forests and greenways play.

Research Methods

To meet the project goals, the principal investigators will utilize the following research methods:

• Assess ecosystem services for the Raleigh urban greenway system.
• Quantify the spatial connectivity and canopy cover across the urban forest of Raleigh.
• Apply an environmental justice framework to compare the delivery of ecosystem services to diverse neighborhoods along the greenway.
• Develop specific recommendations for improving ecosystem service provisioning across neighborhoods connected by the Greenway system.

About McIntire-Stennis

The McIntire-Stennis program, a unique federal-state partnership, cultivates and delivers forestry and natural resource innovations for a better future. By advancing research and education that increases the understanding of emerging challenges and fosters the development of relevant solutions, the McIntire-Stennis program has ensured healthy resilient forests and communities and an exceptional natural resources workforce since 1962.