Assessment of the ecosystem services in green areas. The case of the Metropolitan Park of Guadalajara, Mexico

Abstract

Urban growth has generated significant pressure on the green areas that make up the landscape of cities and threatens the green infrastructure's ecosystem services of the city. This study aimed to estimate the economic value of ecosystem services (ES) offered by the Metropolitan Park of Guadalajara (MPG) through the contingent valuation method. Users recognize cultural services as the most important ES, followed by those of regulation and support. Likewise, a high percentage of users (98%) say they are willing to pay ($38.60) to keep the benefits provided by the park, and 90% are determined to demand compensation for the possibility of being denied access to them. It is necessary to make people and decision-makers aware of the importance of the ES provided by parks to ensure proper management.