Enhancing Multiple Benefits of Brownfield Cleanups by Applying Ecosystem Services Concepts
Brownfields are increasingly called upon to be transformed from potentially contaminated, often vacant properties into community assets that provide multiple benefits. Decision-makers are using recent policy tools to encourage brownfields revitalization that helps to combat the climate crisis, apply nature-based solutions, and enhance ecosystem services. Nature-based solutions are actions to protect, sustainably manage, or restore natural or modified ecosystems to address societal challenges, simultaneously providing benefits for people and the environment. Brownfields revitalization can provide critical opportunities and, particularly, nature-based solutions can enhance multiple ecological, human health, and economic benefits. Examples of nature-based solutions, where appropriate, include the use of rain gardens, permeable pavements, green spaces, and the use of green technologies . This article provides an overview of recent policy initiatives focused on nature-based solutions and enhancing ecosystem services in brownfields cleanup, revitalization, and reuse. Our goals are to increase the knowledge base on these opportunities and discuss how these concepts can be achieved through sharing success stories, accessible outreach materials, and holding workshops to help successfully operationalize these concepts in a community’s visioning for upcoming revitalization projects.