Plant species selection for urban green spaces in arid lands: a new approach using ecosystem services and disservices

The selection of plant species for green spaces in arid regions is very complex due to many environmental constraints. Green spaces should provide the maximum services for urban residents. This study aimed to develop an approach for selecting plant species for urban greening projects by combining 13 weighted ecosystem services (energy saving, timber production, weather regulation, habitat provision, water yield, erosion control, preventing disturbances, pollination, nutrient cycling, outdoor recreation, spiritual value, education, and aesthetic value) and 7 weighted disservices (damage to infrastructures, disturbance in mobility, disturbance in safety and security, visual pollutions, health issues, environmental problems, and maintenance problems) in an arid city in Iran. Services and disservices were evaluated using their weighted indicators. Services directly affect species selection almost 1.4 times more than disservices. Plant characteristics also indirectly enhanced the impact of services and disservices on species selection. Tree height had most significant impact on services than disservices, indicating the positive effect of tree height on green spaces. Canopy cover and leaf lifespan had the same impacts on services and disservice, increasing complexity for decision-makers and planners of urban green spaces. Millingtonia hortensis was the most suitable species for green spaces. In contrast, Eucalyptus sideroxylon was the most unsuitable species due to higher disservices than services. In general, the proposed method could be an excellent tool for assisting public and private sector managers in selecting of suitable plant species for urban greening.