Linking sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) together with ecosystem services and disservices : new connections in urban ecology

Chunglim, Mak

Abstract

Increased flooding, urban diffuse pollution and habitat fragmentation are predicted as the climate changes and urbanisation increases; all will affect human and wildlife well-being negatively. Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) have the potential to mitigate these effects and also provide additional amenity and biodiversity benefits. However, the current SuDS approach is site-specific and technically focused, hence, failing to generate anticipated amenity and biodiversity benefits. Therefore, a new SuDS approach is required.

A critical evaluation of the SuDS approach, the Ecosystem Approach, ecosystem services and disservices enabled an innovative SuDS Communication and Planning Framework to be created. The framework highlights key amenity and biodiversity related ecosystem services and disservices produced by vegetated SuDS systems, coupled with drivers affecting the production of these services and disservices.

This framework was validated by examining 49 representative sites within Greater Manchester using two ecosystem services and disservices variables assessment methods (vegetation structure cover-abundance and cultural ecosystem services and disservices appraisals). Resultant scores for five ecosystem services were calculated, where habitat for species and recreation ecosystem services were found to be synergistically linked to each other in a positive correlation. The result also enabled recommendations to be made that future vegetated SuDS development would benefit from involving local communities.

Overall the research produced practical Ecosystem Approach methods for SuDS development decision making, and the SuDS Communication and Planning Framework provides an innovative, easy to use tool to implement Ecosystem Approach compliant solutions for key SuDS stakeholders (planners, developers, designers, researchers and policy makers). Finally, the SuDS Communication and Planning Framework can now be found in the second part of the UK National Ecosystem Approach, UK NEA follow-on, as part of a series of Ecosystem Approach toolkits incorporated into the decision making processes for managing the urban environment in a sustainable way.

Citation

Chunglim, M. (in press). Linking sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) together with ecosystem services and disservices : new connections in urban ecology. (Thesis). University of Salford

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Acceptance Date: Oct 15, 2015
• Deposit Date: Jun 17, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 17, 2016