Participatory Planning Framework for Mainstreaming Ecosystem Services to Enhance Agricultural Resilience in Peri-Urban Areas

Ecosystem services are gaining prominence in urban and peri-urban sustainability discourses, especially in efforts to increase agricultural resilience. The parochial approach and understanding of peri-urban neighborhood dynamics, especially across the global south, has led to its limited recognition, amongst the global urban planning discourses, that are grounded around Eurocentric approaches and theories. This chapter deepens our understanding of peri-urban areas and ecosystem services by highlighting the relation between agri-ecosystem services and peri-urban areas and formulates a participatory planning framework for mainstreaming ecosystem services to enhance agricultural resilience in peri-urban areas thereby restore ecosystems. This chapter highlights that due to rapid urbanization, agricultural land in peri-urban areas is converted into built-up land to meet development needs, leading to reduced agricultural activities in peri-urban areas compared to urban areas. This chapter discusses the importance of peri-urban areas in restoring ecosystem services and enhancing agriculture resilience, emphasizing the need for capacity building in decision-making. The findings offer insightful information for urban planners and policymakers on the trade-offs between spatial design and ecosystem restoration to achieve agricultural resilience. This research has an implication necessary for restoring ecosystem services, thereby transforming peri-urban areas.