9. The Cost of Greening: Disservices of Urban Trees

Excerpt

Urban trees as part of urban forests generate a range of environmental, economic, social and cultural benefits that contribute to the well-being and health of citizens. Nevertheless, sometimes in the development of these functions and ecosystem services (ES), a series of end products that negatively affect the quality of life or costs entailed to the economy and society are produced. The hazards associated with urban trees that can occur alongside ES have been defined by some authors as the cost of the ecosystem, or “ecosystem disservices” (ED) (Lyytimäki and Sipilä 2009; Tomalak et al. 2011). More specifically, they are defined as functions or properties of ecosystems that are perceived as negative for human well-being (Lyytimäki 2014). These nuisances and harmful effects can be derived from the natural functions of trees, such as the loss of leaves or emissions of VOCs and pollen, but they may also be caused by a deliberate manipulation of ecosystems and anthropogenic biodiversity management. Sometimes considerable environmental, economic and social damage occurs, which can significantly alter the welfare of the population and the positive net balance of ES. …