A framework towards a composite indicator for urban ecosystem services

This article describes a composite indicator for ecosystem services. This composite is composed of several sub-indices, each representing either land use types or ecosystem services. While the overall composite indicates a general overview of the performance of a system in terms of ecosystem services provision, the sub-indices provide sources of variation. Taking into consideration potential trade-offs between making the framework complex and keeping it simple, the composite was developed on two levels. The first level, a simpler one, requires few indicators and therefore needs less data as inputs. The second level, in contrast, is more complex requiring more indicators, involving more detailed measurements, and therefore can be applied with more confidence.