Approach to Urban Environmental Justice Using Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis. The Case of Valencia’s Monumental Trees

Alfonso Gallego-Valadés,Francisco Ródenas-Rigla,Jorge Garcés-Ferrer

doi:10.3390/su12187760

Alfonso Gallego-Valadés, Francisco Ródenas-Rigla + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/su12187760

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Journal: Sustainability	Publication Date: Sep 19, 2020
Citations: 2	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Valencia

Abstract

Environmental justice has been a relevant object of analysis in recent decades. The generation of patterns in the spatial distribution of urban trees has been a widely addressed issue in the literature. However, the spatial distribution of monumental trees still constitutes an unknown object of study. The aim of this paper was to analyse the spatial distribution of the monumental-tree heritage in the city of Valencia, using Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis (ESDA) methods, in relation to different population groups and to discuss some implications in terms of environmental justice, from the public-policy perspective. The results show that monumental trees are spatially concentrated in high-income neighbourhoods, and this fact represents an indicator of environmental inequality. This diagnosis can provide support for decision-making on this matter.

Highlights

Environmental justice refers to the principle by which environmental costs and benefits must be equitably distributed among the population [1]
The aim of this paper was to analyse the spatial distribution of the monumental-tree heritage in the city of Valencia, using Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis (ESDA) methods, in relation to different population groups and to discuss some implications in terms of environmental justice, from the public-policy perspective
The population with incomes per unit of consumption above 200% of the median shows the highest degree of spatial autocorrelation, followed by single-person households and the population aged 65 or over, which indicates that socioeconomic status is the element with the greatest impact on the socio-residential articulation of the Valencian population

Summary

Introduction

Environmental justice refers to the principle by which environmental costs and benefits must be equitably distributed among the population [1]. Environmental justice depends on the level of equity in the spatial distribution of costs and benefits to the population groups that make up the socio-residential structure of the city. This distribution depends mainly on the territorialized implementation of green intervention policies and their link with the socio-spatial and residential structure of the population. Much of the research has focused on issues such as the accessibility and spatial distribution of green infrastructure, and its relationship with the socio-residential composition of neighbourhoods. The spatial distribution of urban monumental trees still constitutes an unknown object of study, despite its remarkable singularity and great botanical, cultural, symbolic or landscape value

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