Novel urban ecosystems and ecosystem services

This chapter addresses the facets of novelty that pervade the urban environment before reviewing the ecosystem services that different components of the urban environment provide. It describes the known and potential contribution of novel elements to these services, with a particular focus on vegetation. The services reviewed include biodiversity maintenance, carbon storage, flood regulation, recreation, spiritual fulfilment and education. The chapter discusses how ecosystem service provision could be boosted by novel components but adds that experiments are required to test our assertions. Research is also needed to investigate trade‐offs among the delivery of ecosystem services in urban areas and to investigate whether they can be successfully implemented in urban areas across the globe and in different socio‐cultural, economic and ecological contexts.