Urban and Peri-Urban Ecosystem Functions Under Climate Change: From Empirical Analysis to Adaptation and Mitigation Planning

Urban expansion in Europe is accelerating, increasing impermeable surfaces and intensifying climate-related pressures, while reducing the capacity of natural and semi-natural habitats to regulate climate. Despite growing interest in ecosystem service (ES), the assessment of resilience, and thus the stability of ES providers, as well as their integration into spatial planning tools, remain limited. This study develops and tests a comprehensive assessment framework that (i) evaluates the current performance of selected ecosystem functions underpinning key regulating ES important for climate adaptation using a look-up table method; (ii) assesses ecosystem resilience by quantification its preconditions; and (iii) applies spatial prioritization to identify and prioritize climate adaptation measures that enhance ecosystem functions and strengthen resilience. The framework was applied to the cadastral area of Liberec (Czech Republic). Results indicate that areas with the highest urgency for intervention were identified consistently across urban and peri-urban zones. However, proposed measures were more diverse and spatially differentiated in peri-urban and rural areas, whereas a single dominant measure prevailed in urban areas, suggesting higher practical applicability outside densely built environments. The approach supports evidence-based spatial planning and contributes to the implementation of the EU Adaptation Strategy by promoting resilient green infrastructure in urban and peri-urban landscapes.