A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Ecosocial values beyond market-oriented conservation: A just compensation of urban green
Authors: Tuomala, Misa; Hiedanpää, Juha; Pappila, Minna
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCI LTD
Publication year: 2026
Journal: Cities
Article number: 106592
Volume: 170
ISSN: 0264-2751
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2025.106592
Publication's open availability at the time of reporting: Open Access
Publication channel's open availability : Partially Open Access publication channel
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2025.106592
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/505433955
Urbanisation is a prevailing trend in urban areas, causing densification and sprawl in the cities. As a result, new construction often targets urban green spaces, weakening the unity and quality of these areas. Biodiversity offsetting has been expressed as a solution to such environmental problems. The challenge of offsetting is its failure to account for the multiple values of local nature for residents, and thus, creating unjust outcomes. Our research focuses on the fairness of compensation, specifically emphasising the ecosocial aspects of urban green spaces. We have conducted 21 thematic interviews for decision-makers, urban planners, NGOs, and researchers, exploring the conceptual and practical aspects of compensating nature-based social values, referred to as ecosocial compensation. Our findings suggest that it is essential to recognise the nature basis of social values in the context of green spaces. Attention must be given not only to the spatial and temporal distribution of offsetting measures but also to the stakeholder and public participation processes and the identification of the values of different social groups. The current land use system and dualistic approach do not adequately address these considerations, and therefore, achieving fair compensation necessitates a more holistic as well as a more practiceoriented ecosocial approach.
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Funding information in the publication:
We would like to thank Research Council of Finland (312671), Turku Urban Research Programme, the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, and Horizon Europe (COEVOLVERS, Grant agreement ID: 101084220) for funding our work.
