scholarly journals Cultural Ecosystem Services Provided by Urban Green Change along an Urban-Periurban Gradient

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 645 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maraja Riechers ◽  
Micha Strack ◽  
Jan Barkmann ◽  
Teja Tscharntke
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cultural Ecosystem Services ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Core ◽  
Perceived Importance

Urbanization by densification is globally increasing and endangers maintenance of urban green and associated social-ecological systems. Cultural ecosystem services play a crucial role in human well-being, especially in urban areas. We analyzed perceived importance of cultural ecosystem services provided by green space in Berlin along an urban-periurban gradient. Based on extensive pretests, we designed a standardized questionnaire and conducted 558 face-to-face interviews. B using multiple regressions and principal component analysis, we show that perceived importance of cultural ecosystem services and patterns of urban green use are affected by an urbanization gradient and associated changes in population density. Important cultural ecosystem services decreases in urban core areas with higher population density, whereas people in periurban areas with more available green spaces exhibit a greater valuation of nature. In contrast, social relations and cultural diversity had the highest importance in the urban core, while cultural heritage, education, natural awareness, recreation, and aesthetical appreciation were higher valued in the less populated periurban areas, suggesting two bundles of cultural ecosystem services.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the Equity and Regional Management of Some Urban Green Space Ecosystem Services: A Case Study of Main Urban Area of Xi’an City

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 813
Author(s):  
Hui Dang ◽  
Jing Li ◽  
Yumeng Zhang ◽  
Zixiang Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Carbon Sequestration ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Green Space ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Urban Green Space ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Deposition Flux ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Xi’An City

Urban green spaces can provide many types of ecosystem services for residents. An imbalance in the pattern of green spaces leads to an inequality of the benefits of such spaces. Given the current situation of environmental problems and the basic geographical conditions of Xi’an City, this study evaluated and mapped four kinds of ecosystem services from the perspective of equity: biodiversity, carbon sequestration, air purification, and climate regulation. Regionalization with dynamically constrained agglomerative clustering and partitioning (REDCAP) was used to obtain the partition groups of ecosystem services. The results indicate that first, the complexity of the urban green space community is low, and the level of biodiversity needs to be improved. The dry deposition flux of particulate matter (PM2.5) decreases from north to south, and green spaces enhance the adsorption of PM2.5. Carbon sequestration in the south and east is higher than that in the north and west, respectively. The average surface temperature in green spaces is lower than that in other urban areas. Second, urban green space resources in the study area are unevenly distributed. Therefore, ecosystem services in different areas are inequitable. Finally, based on the regionalization of integrated ecosystem services, an ecosystem services cluster was developed. This included 913 grid spaces, 12 partitions, and 5 clusters, which can provide a reference for distinct levels of ecosystem services management. This can assist urban managers who can use these indicators of ecosystem service levels for planning and guiding the overall development pattern of green spaces. The benefits would be a maximization of the ecological functions of green spaces, an improvement of the sustainable development of the city, and an improvement of people’s well-being.

scholarly journals Spatiotemporal Changes in Ecosystem Services along a Urban-Rural-Natural Gradient: A Case Study of Xi’an, China

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 1133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoxuan Li ◽  
Hongjuan Zhang ◽  
Zhicheng Zhang ◽  
Juan Feng ◽  
Kang Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Hot Spot ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Core Area ◽  
Conservation Area ◽  
Urban Core ◽  
Ecological Conservation ◽  
Extended Area ◽  
The Impact

Urban areas are the areas that are most strongly affected by human activities, which presents many challenges to the ecosystem and human well-being. Ecosystem services (ES) are a comprehensive indicator to measure the ecological effects of urbanization. To effectively identify and evaluate the impact of urbanization on ES, the spatial-temporal pattern of ES should be considered. According to the level of urbanization, Xi’an city is divided into four regions: the urban core area, the urban extended area, the rural area, and the ecological conservation area, then, five comprehensive ecosystem services (CES) are evaluated by In VEST model. The results showed the following: (1) There is an obvious spatial heterogeneity in the distribution of ES. The ecological conservation area is the hot spot of ES supply, and the low value is mostly distributed in the urban core area. (2) The CES in the urban extended area that has undergone the greatest change between 2000 and 2015, and the rates of change in the ecological conservation area are the smallest. (3) There is a significant correlation between urbanization and ES, and the correction between landscape urbanization and ES is the most significant. (4) The agglomeration relationship between urbanization and ES in different regions is not consistent. Regional division provides a new way to understand the interaction between urbanization and ES in time and space, so as to provide better guidance for policy makers in formulating sustainable development policies to alleviate the loss of ES caused by the process of urbanization.

scholarly journals Qualitative Exploration of Perception and Use of Cultural Ecosystem Services from Tree-Based Urban Green Space in the City of Zagreb (Croatia)

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 876
Author(s):  
Silvija Krajter Ostoić ◽  
Ana Marija Marin ◽  
Martina Kičić ◽  
Dijana Vuletić
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Place Attachment ◽  
Green Space ◽  
Urban Green Space ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Cultural Ecosystem Services ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
Different Types

Background and Objectives: Cultural ecosystem services of urban green spaces are increasingly important and often recognized as such by people living in urban areas. Qualitative studies on perception of cultural ecosystem services from urban green spaces are still rare. Previous studies addressed only certain types of urban green space and often only some services. There is a lack of understanding how people perceive cultural ecosystem services from different types of tree-based urban green spaces. Hence, the purpose of the study was to explore whether and how people perceive and use cultural ecosystem services of different types of tree-based urban green spaces. Materials and Methods: Focus groups were conducted with citizens in each city district. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and transcripts analyzed in MAXQDA software. We used bottom up code-category-theme approach to analyze the data without predefined set of codes or categories. Results: Place attachment, aesthetic and recreational services were more recognized than educational and cultural identity services. For place attachment, most important single attributes were positive memories, and good maintenance, while most important categories were facilities, existence of emotional ties, possibility of experiences, recreational use and access. Presence of specific tree species and presence of trees in general were most important attributes for aesthetic services, while possibility of experiences and trees were the most important categories. Conclusions: People perceived various cultural ecosystem services from tree-based urban green space, even though some services more than others. Recreation may be the underlying goal of our participants when interacting with tree-based urban nature. Forests, parks were recognized as those providing multiple cultural ecosystem services. However, other types of green spaces were also recognized as bearers of these services, albeit with less services and attributes attached. It supports the importance of careful planning of urban green spaces in terms of providing a variety of green space types. The study provides basis for later quantification of cultural ecosystem services (CES) from tree-based urban green space.

scholarly journals Urban Standards and Ecosystem Services: The Evolution of the Services Planning in Italy from Theory to Practice

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 2434
Author(s):  
Anna Maria Colavitti ◽  
Alessio Floris ◽  
Sergio Serra
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Comparative Method ◽  
Life Quality ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Planning System ◽  
Natural Ecosystems ◽  
Planning Practice

Human well-being is determined by multiple factors related to health, social relations, safety, environment, landscape, cultural heritage, and quality of services. The Italian planning system provided a set of “urban standards”, in terms of threshold values of areas per inhabitant destined for public services and facilities. The application of urban standards, for a period of more than fifty years, did not result in a broad improvement of life quality in the urban areas. This paper discusses the issue of urban facilities in Italy in order to evaluate the opportunity to innovate traditional standards according to the environmental and ecological paradigm, focusing on the benefits provided to humans by natural ecosystems, the so-called ecosystem services (ESs). The paper investigates the evolution of the Italian planning practice through the introduction of quality standards and innovative tools able to meet the ever-changing social demand. The research aims to verify if the ES concept is really implemented in the Italian planning practice and if the ecosystem approach has a real impact on political decision-making. Using a comparative method, four case-studies of urban municipal plans are selected and analyzed in order to identify different approaches and possible fields of innovation. The research highlighted a lack of integration of ecosystem services approach in the land use decisions, although there is an in-depth survey on the state of conservation of ecological and environmental resources. The local experiments of qualitative standards represent an attempt to deal with specific ecological emergencies, namely flood risk, air, water, and soil pollution, and loss of biodiversity. Conclusions discuss, from an international perspective, the need to revise the traditional planning approach in the field of public services and facilities, taking into account the influence of ecosystem services on human well-being.

scholarly journals Stay close to urban green spaces: current evidence on cultural ecosystem services provision

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Diogo Guedes Vidal ◽  
Catarina Patoilo Teixeira ◽  
Ricardo Cunha Dias ◽  
Cláudia Oliveira Fernandes ◽  
Walter Leal Filho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Landscape Management ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Cultural Ecosystem Services ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
Article Type ◽  
Year 2000 ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

Abstract Background Research suggests that access to urban green spaces (UGS) is crucial to support public and environmental health through ecosystem services (ES) provision. However, Cultural ecosystem services (CES), due to their connections to human emotion, a deep meaning, fulfilment, and motivation, have been less studied. CES provision in UGS are central to well-being, contributing to improving mental and physical health outcomes, as well as enhancing social cohesion. Accordingly, this systematic review aims to contribute to a better understanding of CES provision by UGS. Methods A systematic review was carried out in ScienceDirect (Article type = Research articles, years = 2000–2020), PubMed (Article type = journal article, text availability = Full text, year = 2000–2020) and Google Scholar (year = 2000–2020) databases. The keywords used in the search were: ‘urban green space’ OR ‘parks’ AND ‘cultural ecosystem service’ OR ‘cultural services’. Results The search returned 5417 results. After the screening process, 41 articles were reviewed. CES are mainly studied in Europe in the fields of social sciences and landscape management, linking human well-being, urban landscape management, and planning. The dimensions studied are (i) perception and assessment, (ii) recreation and mental and physical health, (iii) aesthetic appreciation/inspiration for culture, art, and design, (iv) tourism, and (v) spiritual experience and sense of place. Conclusions The study points out to the need for efforts to develop relational approaches to help understand what UGS users feel and experience. In particular, how UGS contribute towards promoting healthier and sustainable cities, and to fostering the well-being of people of all ages.

scholarly journals Towards a ‘City in Nature’: Evaluating the Cultural Ecosystem Services Approach to Support Urban Green Space Management

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Fan Koh ◽  
Ho Huu Loc ◽  
Edward Park
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Green Space ◽  
Urban Green Space ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Environmental Research ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cultural Ecosystem Services ◽  
Space Management ◽  
Urban Green

Cultural ecosystem services has been increasingly influential in both environmental research and policy decision-making, such as for urban green spaces However, its popular definition conflates the concepts of ‘services’ and ‘benefits’ which made it challenging for planners to employ it directly for urban green space management. One the most widely used definition of this non-tangible ecosystem services are “functions of environmental spaces and cultural activities which may then result in the enjoyment of cultural ecosystem benefits”; yet the latter itself have never found its way into official laws and regulations. In this study, via a case study in Singapore, we propose new evidence to re-evaluate and re-position the two of the most important emerging concepts in managing the green spaces in urban areas. Using the transdisciplinary mixed methods of public participation GIS and social media text mining analysis, a wealth of cultural ecosystem services and their associated benefits were reported. This was especially so with regards to recreational and aesthetic services and experiential benefits. Recommendations to improve the park were also suggested, alongside sharing of methodological considerations for future research. Overall, this paper recommends the employment of the redefined cultural ecosystem services conceptual framework to generate relational, data-driven and actionable insights to better support urban green space management, which is not only useful to Singapore governments but also world-wide relevant.

scholarly journals The Value of Urban Nature in Terms of Providing Ecosystem Services Related to Health and Well-Being: An Empirical Comparative Pilot Study of Cities in Germany and the Czech Republic

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 341
Author(s):  
Ralf-Uwe Syrbe ◽  
Ina Neumann ◽  
Karsten Grunewald ◽  
Patrycia Brzoska ◽  
Jiři Louda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Green Space ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Urban Green Space ◽  
Urban Nature ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Green Areas ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Health And Well Being

The quality of life in our cities critically depends on the intelligent planning and shaping of urban living space, in particular urban nature. By providing a wide range of ecosystem services (ES), urban nature essentially contributes to the well-being of city dwellers and plays a major role in avoiding common diseases through its positive impact on physical and mental health. Health is one of the most important factors underlying human welfare and is, thus, vital to sustainable development. The ES of urban green space provide other social-cultural functions alongside public health, for example by fostering environmental justice and citizenship participation. Thus, they should always be considered when searching for solutions to urban problems. The aim of this research was to determine the impact of green areas in three selected cities on the health and well-being of people by self-reporting of green areas’ visitors. To this end, we posed the research question: which types and characteristics of urban green space are most appreciated by city dwellers? Based on our findings, we have drawn up recommendations for practices to promote better living conditions. We have also pinpointed obstacles to and opportunities for leisure time activities as well as ways of supporting the public health of citizens.

scholarly journals Cities, the Urban Green Environment, and Individual Subjective Well-Being: The Case of Milan, Italy

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giorgio Tavano Blessi ◽  
Enzo Grossi ◽  
Giovanni Pieretti ◽  
Guido Ferilli ◽  
Alessandra Landi
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Spatial Proximity ◽  
Independent Effect ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Residential Proximity ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Areas ◽  
Green Areas ◽  
The Individual

This paper evaluates the independent effect of the spatial proximity of green urban areas upon the individual subjective well-being of the Milan population (Italy). The methodology is based on a survey undertaken in 2010 using a sample of 1,000 of Milan citizens. Univariate and multivariate analyses and GIS localization have been employed in order to rank the major individual well-being determinants and the relationship between citizens and urban green areas. Results show that the residential proximity of citizens to urban green areas seems to have little bearing on individual subjective well-being.

scholarly journals A novel approach of mapping landscape aesthetic value and its validation with rural tourism data

2019 ◽  
pp. 283-301
Author(s):  
Zsuzsanna Lontai-Szilágyi ◽  
Boglárka Bertalan-Balázs ◽  
Bernadett Zsiros ◽  
Mária Vasvári ◽  
Singh Sudhir Kumar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Tourism Development ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Rural Tourism ◽  
Landscape Aesthetics ◽  
Cultural Ecosystem Services ◽  
Aesthetic Value ◽  
Tourism Product

Landscape aesthetic research that emerged from the second half of the 20th century has become increasingly appreciated and popular in the last few decades. There are two main reasons for this. On the one hand, it was recognized the role of landscape aesthetics in land use and environmental planning, management and conservation. On the other hand, its definition among Cultural Ecosystem Services has made it clear that landscape aesthetics has significant impact on human well-being and there is a need to examine it in the concept of Ecosystem Services and, in particular, Cultural Ecosystem Services (CES). The mapping of landscape aesthetics is mostly based on the exclusive evaluation of objective, biophysical landscape factors. The aim of the research was to create the landscape aesthetic map of Hungary with a novel method based on human perception. For this, a questionnaire survey and a GIS approach were used. In order to better understand the role of factors influencing the aesthetic value of the landscape, value maps separately for land cover and elevation that are decisive for the landscape experience were prepared. To validate the results of the maps, and contribute a better understanding of the interrelationship between CES, a certain tourism product was chosen, and the connection between landscape aesthetics and the offer of rural tourism was examined in Hungary and in the Danube Bend priority tourism development area. Our findings show that there is a difference in the results of the objective (GIS-based) and subjective (questionnaire-based) assessment of landscape aesthetic value with the more important role of elevation in the latter. According to our tourism product-based analysis, which represents a niche approach in its kind, landscape values are higher in the areas with rural accommodation. At the same time, based on the results of the Danube Bend region, it can also be concluded that elevation and land cover together are crucial factors in landscapes considered to be the most valuable in aesthetic terms. The most direct practical application of our research is to orientate further tourism development of the new Danube Bend area designated in 2017.

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