The Pluralistic Natural Capital Values of a Tropical City

Authors

Adrienne Grêt-Regamey, Planning of Landscape and Urban Systems (PLUS)
Justine Saunders, NIRAS, Ascot, England
Peter Edwards, ETH Zürich
Daniel Richards, Manaaki Whenua- Landcare Research
Jahson I. Alemu, University of South Alabama
Natasha Bhatia, Nanyang Technological University
Roman Carrasco, National University of Singapore
Zuzana Drillet, National University of Singapore
Tze Kwan Fung, National University of Singapore
Yan Feng Leon Gaw, National University of Singapore
Wanggi Jaung, Chungnam National University
Andrea Law, National University of Singapore
Rachel Ai Ting Leong, UMR Processus Infectieux en Milieu Insulaire
Aikeen Youu Ming Lim, Singapore Management University
Mahyar Masoudi, Memorial University
Yudhishthra Nathan, Nanyang Technological University
Rachel Rui Ying Oh, National Parks Board, Singapore
Wen Ting Ooi, National University of Singapore
Fairul Edros Ahmad Shaikh Shaikh, National University of Singapore
Xiao Ping Song, National University of Singapore
Claudia L.Y. Tan, National University of Singapore
Puay Yok Tan, National University of Singapore
Sergio Wicki, ETH Zürich
Lynn-Wei Wong, National University of Singapore
Yanyun Yan, National University of Singapore
Erik Yando, Old Dominion UniversityFollow
Alex Thiam Koon Yee, National Parks Board, Singapore
Jingyuan Zhang, Harbin Institute of Technology
Daniel A. Friess, Tulane University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2025

DOI

10.1016/j.ecoser.2025.101774

Publication Title

Ecosystem Services

Volume

76

Pages

101774 (1-21)

Abstract

Nature in cities is essential for human well-being. Quantifying and valuing the goods and services provided by nature to city dwellers is missing in tropical contexts. Yet, as cities worldwide face similar challenges, understanding the services provided by tropical urban ecosystems becomes imperative for effective management. Here, we present the first Natural Capital Assessment of a tropical city, unveiling three critical insights. Firstly, we demonstrate the vital reliance of a developed tropical city on nature, particularly for climate change mitigation through regulating services. Secondly, we identify intact natural areas as Singapore’s most valuable assets, stressing the significance of the quality of urban greenery in enhancing ecosystem services. Lastly, we highlight the importance of nurturing connections between urban residents and nature, fostering relational values crucial for sustained care and conservation of nature.

Rights

© 2025 The Authors.

This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License.

Data Availability

Article states: "All the data produced in this study is available in this document."

Original Publication Citation

Grêt-Regamey, A., Saunders, J., Edwards, P., Richards, D., Alemu, J. I., Bhatia, N., Carrasco, R., Drillet, Z., Fung, T. K., Gaw, Y. F. L., Jaung, W., Law, A., Leong, R. A., Lim, A. Y. M., Masoudi, M., Nathan, Y., Oh, R. R. Y., Ooi, W. T., Shaikh, F. E. A.,…Friess, D. A. (2025). The pluralistic natural capital values of a tropical city. Ecosystem Services, 76, 1-21, Article 101774. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2025.101774

Repository Citation

Grêt-Regamey, Adrienne; Saunders, Justine; Edwards, Peter; Richards, Daniel; Alemu, Jahson I.; Bhatia, Natasha; Carrasco, Roman; Drillet, Zuzana; Fung, Tze Kwan; Gaw, Yan Feng Leon; Jaung, Wanggi; Law, Andrea; Leong, Rachel Ai Ting; Ming Lim, Aikeen Youu; Masoudi, Mahyar; Nathan, Yudhishthra; Oh, Rachel Rui Ying; Ooi, Wen Ting; Shaikh, Fairul Edros Ahmad Shaikh; Song, Xiao Ping; Tan, Claudia L.Y.; Tan, Puay Yok; Wicki, Sergio; Wong, Lynn-Wei; Yan, Yanyun; Yando, Erik; Koon Yee, Alex Thiam; Zhang, Jingyuan; and Friess, Daniel A., "The Pluralistic Natural Capital Values of a Tropical City" (2025). Biological Sciences Faculty Publications. 667.
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/biology_fac_pubs/667

ORCID

0000-0002-8786-6178 (Yando)