A national-level indicator of ecosystem services would allowpolicy makers, scientists, and the public to understand whetherthe US is gaining or losing critical services.
An academic article in the journal of The Ecological Society of American suggests that national scale aggregate indicators of ecosystem services are useful for stimulating and supporting a broadpublic discussion about trends in the provision of these services. There are important considerationsinvolved in producing an aggregate indicator, including whether the scientific and technological capacityexists, how to address varying perceptions of the societal importance of different services, and how to communicateinformation about these services to both decision makers and the general public. Although thechallenges are formidable, they are not insurmountable. Quantification of ecosystem services and disseminationof information to decision makers and the public is critical for the responsible and sustainable managementof natural resources.
[Editor's note: The link below is to a 200KB PDF.]
Thanks to Planning Educators Listserv
FULL STORY: Aggregate measures of ecosystem services: can we take the pulse of nature?
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.