Green-oriented planning for shrinking cities through an integrated ecosystem services/disservices analysis: A Case of Minoo Island, Iran

Abstract

The number of shrinking cities is rapidly growing and posing new planning and design challenges worldwide. In this regard, understanding urban decline from an integrated ecosystem services/disservices perspective is limited in the literature and is considered as a critical basis for revitalization programs. Minoo Island as one of the emerging shrinking cases in Middle East has considerable characteristics in terms of both positive and negative aspects of ecosystem in population decline. This paper aims to investigate various ecosystem factors resulting in urban shrinkage in Minoo Island as a consequence of the Iran-Iraq war in 1980s. The research method of this study is based on qualitative assessment of ecosystem services/disservices by using participant observation and semi-structured interviews. An integrated ecosystem services/disservice analysis was applied for assessment of ecological functions and assets. The results of this paper show that despite remarkable ecosystem potentials and functionalities in Minoo Island, it suffers from detrimental effects of ecosystem disservices leading to population decline over the past decades. Finally, this paper proposed some green-oriented design and planning strategies such as ecological protection, river restoration and green infrastructures for revitalizing Minoo Island.