Uploaded on 2015-11-23 by rchung427

2. Regulating Services: Sam Houston Forest, probably the most significant in terms of size and regulating services, is about 60 miles north of the urban city center. Downtown/ Midtown areas in Houston have made significant efforts to include "green spaces" recently, becoming a hub for cultural events in the city as well. It's unclear whether such effects are large enough to provide significant regulating services, but they certainly add shading and complement the livability to the city as a whole. ![enter image description here][1] Discovery Green, Hargreaves Associates In the late summer/fall, Houston is prone to flooding as a result of the flat landscape and heavy rains. A multi-million dollar project focused on constructing the Buffalo Bayou park, one of the more vulnerable flooding areas, as an aesthetically pleasing solution to flooding. Construction included restoration of bayou banks and bank stabilization. ![enter image description here][2] 3. Habitat/ Supporting services: One of the more striking examples of diversity supporting sites in Houston is the Bayou parkland, which is located in Hermann Park. In the process of conservancy/ restoration efforts, the parkland in particular has been a center of habitat rebuilding efforts, and is a site of greater bird and tree diversity than the rest of the city. 4. Cultural Services: Hermann park also has a number of free cultural services including performances at Miller outdoor theater (concerts, plays, ect) and various features (e.g: the Japanese garden, garden center) that provide aesthetic and cultural learning opportunities, particularly for children. Other free cultural events throughout the city (i.e: free museum exhibits, access to parks) through government and private sector sponsorship are an example of good civic governance. Access to these resources I think is something that the city can continue to improve on--due to lack of public transportation options, these cultural resources are limited to those who are financially able to drive/ own a car. [1]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14483103229124521.jpg