Building a map of urban ecosystem services in Thu Duc City

Abstract

The process of urbanization brings numerous positive impacts on economic and social development; however, it also exerts significant effects on the natural environment. Specifically, urbanization has contributed to the disruption of many natural ecosystems, which play a vital role in filtering pollution and safeguarding the living environment. Thu Duc City serves as a case study, where rapid urbanization has led to substantial changes in its natural ecosystems. Many ecosystems have been degraded or lost, reducing their capacity to provide valuable ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, climate regulation, and pollution mitigation. This study aims to evaluate the condition of natural ecosystems in Thu Duc City and analyze the ecosystem services they provide. The research involves the creating of an ecosystem service map system over the period from 1988 to 2023, employing the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method in combination with GIS and remote sensing technologies. The study’s findings reveal that the conversion of land use types from agricultural land to urban areas has significantly diminished the capacity of ecosystems to provide essential services. These results provide a critical foundation for urban planning and environmental conservation efforts in the region.