Regulating ecosystem services in urban contexts. Supply-related evidence from the city of Cagliari, Italy

This research aims to examine the interconnections among the supply of ecosystem services, characteristics of green spaces, and attributes of urban settlements in the context of an Italian city, specifically Cagliari. The study focuses on key urban ecosystem services such as heat mitigation, carbon capture and storage, and runoff control, particularly in relation to flood-related events. Green area characteristics are identified based on vegetation height, distinguishing between grasslands, shrubby cover, and trees and woodland cover. The urban settlement is characterized by building and population densities, as well as the education level, serving as a proxy for residents' social statuses. The evaluation of urban ecosystem service performance reveals negative correlations with urbanization intensity, while the magnitude of improvement in ecosystem service supply is linked to different types of green areas. From a policy perspective, the study suggests substantial potential for enhancing ecosystem service performance through targeted measures involving building and population densities and vegetation cover.