Young Citizens’ Perceptions of Informal Green Space - A Study of Japanese High School Student's Place Attachment and Desire to Live in Rural Areas

Abstract

One of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted at the UN Summit in September 2015 includes the greening movement, in which ordinary citizens can actively participate. Goals 3, 11, 13, and 15 of SDGs contribute to health and well-being, sustainable cities and communities, measures against climate change, and protection of life on land, respectively. In this context, studies of urban green spaces have been conducted on greening movements. Most studies have focused on formally recognized green spaces such as parks, gardens, and forests. “Informal green spaces” refer to small plots of land covered with greenery such as grassy areas on roadsides, vacant lots, and vegetation beside railroad tracks and waterways; however, they are considered separate from formal green spaces. A previous survey of informal green space usage in Ichikawa City, Chiba Prefecture, showed that residents were aware of informal green spaces in their neighborhoods and viewed them as potential auxiliary green spaces. However, the study mainly focused on the elderly, and no studies have focused on youth from junior high or high school as the primary research target. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify whether the results from previous studies were relevant to younger generations and a broader range of cities.This study focuses on the cities near Ichikawa, located in the metropolitan area of Japan, urbanized with residential condominiums and other buildings. There are several formal green spaces, and interest in greenery is relatively high. We first surveyed the actual conditions of various informal green spaces in Chiba and recorded their location information and types. Based on the data obtained, a questionnaire on the use and evaluation of informal green spaces was designed, and the responses were collected using “Classi,” an ICT platform for students and teachers, from Ichikawa Gakuen’s students (junior high school to senior high school) and teachers.Green spaces can help to build a sustainable society by improving physical and mental health through exposure to nature, developing cities where people can continue to live, and reducing heat islands. The importance of formal and informal green spaces in cities has been highlighted in this study, which indicated that informal green spaces not only enrich people’s lives but also have the potential for new usage. This study emphasizes that in urban areas with many restrictions, informal green spaces play a complementary role to formal green spaces.