Which example best illustrates the concept of ecosystem services in urban planning?

• A. A park simply for aesthetics.
• B. A green roof reducing energy demand and capturing rainwater.
• C. A zoo with exotic animals.
• D. A parking lot with trees only for shade.

Answer: (B)

Ecosystem services in urban planning are the benefits that natural systems provide to people within the city, such as saving energy, managing water, and improving air quality. A green roof exemplifies this by turning part of a building into a living system that delivers tangible services: it insulates the structure, reducing the energy needed for heating and cooling; it captures rainwater and slows runoff, helping with stormwater management; and it can help cool the surrounding air while supporting urban biodiversity. These regulating services show how integrating greenery into infrastructure yields practical, multiple benefits for residents and the environment.

A park for aesthetics mainly delivers cultural or recreational value, a zoo focuses on wildlife display and education, and a parking lot with trees offers shade but doesn’t clearly demonstrate the broader energy and water-management benefits that a green roof provides.