Heterogeneous preference for biodiversity in Japanese urban blue spaces based on people's nature experiences: Analysis using eDNA and satisfaction data

Abstract

This study focused on rivers as an urban blue space and investigated how urban residents perceive the biodiversity of rivers around their homes to understand whether people’s evaluation of biodiversity changes depended on the extent of their nature experiences. Quantitative data measured by the environmental DNA method were used as an indicator of biodiversity, while urban residents' perceptions of the river and their experiences of nature were ascertained by conducting a social survey. A regression analysis of 312 responses of people living in the catchment areas around 20 rivers showed that for participants with more childhood nature experiences, their satisfaction with their neighborhood waterfront areas tended to increase as river biodiversity increased. However, for those who have had fewer childhood experiences with nature, an increase in biodiversity resulted in lower satisfaction with waterfront areas. These results indicate that modern urban residents with little experience with nature tend to prefer concrete paved rivers for their recreational value and walkability rather than rivers with high biodiversity.