Abstract
Urban green spaces and green features are beneficial for protecting biodiversity and contributing to human well-being in the form of ecosystem services (ES). Although there are numerous benefits to urban vegetation, trade-offs also occur – sometimes referred to as ecosystem disservices (ED). To maximize ES among residents with diverse values, experiences, and world-views, it is important to focus on concurrently minimizing ED through appropriate planning and management supported by interdisciplinary research. Conceptual frameworks and classification systems have been proposed to guide such research, but it is unclear to what degree these have been taken up, how much they converge or diverge from each other, and their applicability across contexts. We conduct a systematic, but targeted, literature review of existing ED classification systems and frameworks in the context of urban ecosystems to take stock of this emerging body of research. We find strong uptake of several highly cited classifications and frameworks, but also substantial variation among articles both within and across fields. We draw on lessons learned from the reviewed articles to create a composite framework that combines ES and ED and includes key factors such as human perception and both proactive and reactive ecosystem management. We call for increased consideration of ED research that recognizes its interconnection and ultimate role for maximizing ES, based on replicable conceptual understandings of this critical concept.