Types Of Green Space Research Articles

Exploring the effect of ecological land structure on PM2.5: A panel data study based on 277 prefecture-level cities in China

In the context of serious urban air pollution and limited land resources, it is important to understand the environmental value of ecological land. Previous studies focused mostly on the effectiveness of a particular type of green space or the total amount of ecological land on PM2.5 and have rarely analyzed the association between ecological land structure and PM2.5 systematically and quantitatively. Therefore, we took 277 cities in China as an example, comprehensively compared the results of different models, and selected a spatial Durbin model using time-fixed effects to dissect the degree of influence of ecological land and different land types within it on PM2.5. The urban ecological land use structure was closely related to PM2.5, and the higher the proportion of ecological land use was, the lower the PM2.5. The degree and direction of influence of different types of land functions within ecological land on PM2.5 differed, with forests, shrubs, and grasslands causing a weakening impact on PM2.5, while wetlands and waters did not have a weakening role. The degree of reduction of PM2.5 by a single type of ecological land was significantly smaller than that by a composite type of ecological land. Green space should be comprehensively considered, designed and adjusted in urban planning to continuously optimize the ecological spatial structure, increase landscape diversity and maximize ecological benefits. The findings of this study help with exploring the effects of land use structure under the goal-oriented control of air pollution and provide theoretical reference and decision-making support for formulating precise air pollution control policies and optimizing the spatial development of national land.

Green space type and healthy ageing in place: An Australian longitudinal study

Research on the health benefits of people’s long-term exposure to green space is lacking. Addressing this emerging topic, this study uncovers the association of green space types with a person’s healthy ageing score (HAS). We investigated the association with HAS by continuous exposure to various green space types for two years. Green space types include tree canopy, low-lying vegetation and open grass percentage within 1.6-km road network distance buffers at baseline and second follow-up. Healthy ageing outcomes included functional capacity, resilience and HAS while accounting for relocation. This is a longitudinal study of a cohort of 22,715 New South Wales residents aged over 45 who participated in the Sax Institute’s 45 and Up Study living in Sydney, Wollongong and Newcastle. Longitudinal models of healthy ageing on green space types were fit with controls for socioeconomic confounders. Women who did not relocate were associated with a lower functional capacity (β; 95%CI: −0.10; −0.15,−0.05) and higher resilience (0.11; 0.08, 0.14) compared to those who relocated. Apart from age, personal characteristics did not explain the variation in healthy ageing outcomes for participants who moved. For participants who did not relocate, 30% grass cover was associated with decreased functional capacity (−0.22; −0.41,−0.04) and HAS (−0.31; −0.56,−0.05). Also, 5–9% low-lying vegetation was associated with a decline in functional capacity (−0.09; −0.15, −0.03) and HAS (−0.09; −0.17, −0.01) of participants who stayed but improved resilience (0.28; 0.01, 0.55) of participants who relocated. Green space comprising over 30% tree cover appeared most beneficial for functional capacity (0.42; 0.31, 0.53), resilience (0.19; 0.13, 0.25) and HAS (0.60; 0.45, 0.75). For participants who relocated, over 30% tree canopy was associated with improved functional capacity (0.33; 0.54, 0.62) but not resilience or their HAS. Increased neighbourhood tree canopy supports healthy ageing. Older people should be supported to live in-home or move into nearby residential care and maintain regular contact with green spaces and trees, to maximise potential benefits for health and wellbeing.

Exploring the Patterns of Recreational Activity among Urban Green Spaces in Poland

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the socio-demographic background, patterns of recreational activity, and their impact on mood regulation strategies used by urban green spaces (UGS) visitors in Poland. In our research approach, we collected data from 376 participants through an online survey. In the next step, we developed structural equation models: one general model and two additional models for men and women. We discovered that both socio-demographic characteristics, as well as the variety of visited green spaces impact people’s mood regulation strategies. In our research approach, latent variable places that consists of different types of green spaces is the key concept that positively affect mood regulation strategies; visiting more places reduces the tendency to decrease mood and increases the tendency to increase mood. Moreover, we identified some important gender similarities and differences. There is causation between the types of leisure activity and the frequency of a leisure activity among men and women. However, in the case of women, the frequency of a leisure activity is positively associated with the tendency to increase mood; in the case of men, the association is negative. The research results provide a deeper insight into of the patterns of green leisure that shape the subjective well-being of urban green space visitors in Poland.

Green Spaces over a Roof or on the Ground, Does It Matter? The Perception of Ecosystem Services and Potential Restorative Effects

Cities are becoming more vulnerable to climate change and need appropriate adaptation measures. Previous studies demonstrated that urban green spaces provide multiple ecosystem services, improving the health and well-being of urban residents. Yet different urban green spaces provide different services—provisioning, regulating, cultural, or supporting ones. This work aims first to understand if urban green space users perceive the different supplies of provisioning and regulating services offered by different types of urban green spaces. Second, this work seeks to determine if green roof type conditions, as well as vegetation type and access, affect the users’ perceptions of the cultural ecosystem services. This work presents the results of an image-based online survey performed among 376 Portuguese undergraduate students between March and April 2021. The survey is based on nine alternative urban space designs, varying the roof access type and vegetation types. The results show a general preference for urban green spaces with more vegetation, regardless of the type of roof, and a general preference for green spaces with better accessibility. In addition, users’ preference for no-roof conditions appears to be linked to the abundance of vegetation and quality of urban design and not to awareness of an existing roof structure and its influence on the natural processes.

IMPACT OF GREEN SPACES ON HOUSE PRICES

Studies around the world have shown that urban green spaces have a positive effect on house prices. The economic benefits of green spaces are an issue that still needs to be addressed. When analyzing scientific literature, it is problematic to compare studies on the influence of green spaces on house prices, due to the absence of a unified assessment system. Working on studies examining a similar categorisation of green spaces, the application of the same assessment methods and the use of a common set of variables would allow for more detailed and accurate analyses. Therefore, the aim of the work is to identify the categories of green spaces and the method of evaluation, which most accurately describes the impact of urban green spaces on housing prices. This work examined 8 studies, most of which were carried out in Europe. An analysis of studies has shown that the most commonly used method for determining the impact of green spaces on house prices is the hedonistic pricing method. When analyzing literature it was noticed that quite often the influence on the price of housing was measured only from a few types of green spaces, although the classification of green spaces is very wide. Most often, the studies did not analyse the sources of noise and pollution. Inclusion of these factors in the assessment would allow comparing the significance of noise and pollution sources and green spaces for the population. An analysis of studies has shown the importance of distance to the city center. In view of the shortcomings of the studies examined, a categorisation of green spaces and related elements has been brought up, which is proposed to be used in further studies on the impact of green spaces on the price of housing.

Parents’ orientation is more important for children’s visits to greenspaces than the availability of spaces and time

The decline in children’s interactions with nature has been a great concern in the past few decades. The reason often discussed is the increase in children living in urban settings where greenspaces and time are limited. However, parents’ orientations toward children’s nature play could also strongly influence the extent of children’s interaction with nature. To understand the relative importance of parental orientation for the frequency of children’s visits to greenspaces (FCG), compared with the availability of greenspaces and time and child’s screen time, we constructed structural equation models (SEM) using questionnaire data obtained from 516 parents with primary school-age children in Japan. We examined the SEMs for four types of greenspaces (forests, farms, rivers and parks) and two children’s age groups (1–3 and 4–6 graders in primary school). In general, parents' permission for free play was the most important factor for FCG across greenspaces and age groups, followed by parents’ perceived benefits of nature play. Parents’ incident concerns reduced FCG indirectly via reducing permission for free play. Urbanization had negative and positive effects on FCG for farms and parks, respectively. Parents’ and children’s time constraints and children’s screen time only had minor or insignificant effects on FCG. Our study demonstrates that parental orientations were more important for FCG than the availability of greenspaces and time. Measures to promote positive orientations, in particular to facilitate greater permission for children’s free play in greenspaces, would be important to reconnect children with nature.

Integrating perceptions of ecosystem services in adaptive management of country parks: A case study in peri-urban Shanghai, China

As a type of peri-urban green space with natural environments and countryside features, country parks provide numerous ecosystem services (ES) for human beings. In China, the multifunctional characteristics and diverse social groups related to the country park construction in the context of urbanization indicate that these ES need to be managed in the social dimension through adaptive decision-making. However, little work has focused on the perceptions of ES for country park management. In this study, we developed a three-step research framework aiming to integrate ES perceptions in adaptive country park management. We carried out face-to-face photo-elicitation questionnaire surveys (n = 229) in a country park pilot in Shanghai to analyze the perceptions of ES by park users. Multiple analytical methods, including statistical analyses, importance-performance analysis, and ES indexes, were applied to reveal the linkages among perceived ES, users’ characteristics, and specific landscape features. Our results showed that water and air quality maintenance, aesthetic, habitat, and physical and mental health, were perceived as the most important, highest performance, and highest priority ES. Users’ education level and their self-reported knowledge about the country park were the two most important variables that explained perceived ES. Perceptions of user groups differed along the distance of the place of residence from the study area, with locals assigning high priorities to provisioning ES and cognitive cultural ES and more distant visitors assigning high priority to education. Semi-natural landscape features, such as lakes and rivers, marsh, swamp forest, and lotus ponds, were perceived as providing the most ES. We further communicated and discussed the results with managers and experts, and provided insights for the next stage of management. We argue that adaptive management should be woven toward environmental justice by understanding the diverse perspectives and views of users on ES.

Association between urban green space and postpartum depression, and the role of physical activity: a retrospective cohort study in Southern California

Little research exists regarding the relationships between green space and postpartum depression (PPD). We aimed to investigate the relationships between PPD and green space exposure, and the mediating role of physical activity (PA). Clinical data were obtained from Kaiser Permanente Southern California electronic health records in 2008-2018. PPD ascertainment was based on both diagnostic codes and prescription medications. Maternal residential green space exposures were assessed using street view-based measures and vegetation types (i.e., street tree, low-lying vegetation, and grass), satellite-based measures [i.e., Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), land-cover green space, and tree canopy cover], and proximity to the nearest park. Multilevel logistic regression was applied to estimate the association between green space and PPD. A causal mediation analysis was performed to estimate the proportion mediated by PA during pregnancy in the total effects of green space on PPD. In total, we included 415,020 participants (30.2±5.8 years) with 43,399 (10.5%) PPD cases. Hispanic mothers accounted for about half of the total population. A reduced risk for PPD was associated with total green space exposure based on street-view measure [500 m buffer, adjusted odds ratio (OR) per interquartile range: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.97-0.99], but not NDVI, land-cover greenness, or proximity to a park. Compared to other types of green space, tree coverage showed stronger protective effects (500 m buffer, OR=0.98, 95% CI: 0.97-0.99). The proportions of mediation effects attributable to PA during pregnancy ranged from 2.7% to 7.2% across green space indicators. Street view-based green space and tree coverage were associated with a decreased risk of PPD. The observed association was primarily due to increased tree coverage, rather than low-lying vegetation or grass. Increased PA was a plausible pathway linking green space to lower risk for PPD. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS; R01ES030353).

Relationships between socio-demographic / socio-economic characteristics and neighborhood green space in four Nordic municipalities – results from NORDGREEN

Urban green space governs important ecosystem services including providing health promoting facilities. However, unequal distribution of green space among socio-demographic and socio-economic groups may create environmental injustice among inhabitants and between neighborhoods. This paper reports on access to different types of green space for residents in four Nordic cities. More precisely it explores relationships between socio-demographic and socio-economic characteristics and access to green space at the neighbourhood level. We selected the following green space variables: distance between inhabitants’ dwellings and parks, forest, and cemeteries; percentages and area per inhabitant of parks, forest, and cemeteries; and vegetation cover derived from satellite images and Urban Atlas. These were linked to income, education, age, and percentage of the population born outside their country of residence at a neighbourhood level. The results show that inhabitants in the four Nordic cities have great access to green space, but the percentage of different types of green space, such as forest and parks, varies between the cities and within the cities. We found that most inhabitants have less than 300 m to the nearest green space ranging from 92% in Stavanger (Norway) to 99.2% in Täby (Sweden). We also found differences in access depending on inhabitants' age, education, immigration status, and median income. Espoo (Finland) had the highest total green space coverage (45.3%), while Täby had the highest proportion of park coverage (2.3%). By compensating with green spaces in less affluent areas, and focusing on equal access to green space, planners can contribute to reduce health inequalities in the population.

Mediating Effect of Challenges on Demographics and Coping Strategies of Indian Healthcare Workers during COVID-19.

Healthcare workers (HCWs) including doctors, nurses and allied workers struggled to cope up with the stressful situation as the COVID-19 pandemic unsettled healthcare systems, including India's. Many factors (commonly called as stressors) acted as major sources of stress and resulted in poor mental health of HCWs. Therefore, this study predicted and explained the mediating effect of challenges on demographic characteristics and coping strategies of HCWs. Data from a cross-sectional study was collected from the district hospital of Rajasthan, India, during the period of August 2022-October 2022. HCW's experience level, shift type and distance of greenspaces from their accommodation were significantly correlated with the challenges they faced at work, specifically societal challenges. Thus, HCWs were more inclined to adopt a meaning-focused coping strategy to retain good mental health during the pandemic. Therefore, these findings call for interventions requiring a layered response, comprising strategies and actions that are structural. At the organizational level, these actions may provide supportive workplace environments.

Types of greenspace and adolescent mental health and well-being in metropolitan London

ABSTRACT The evidence suggests a link between greenspace and adolescent mental health. One limitation is the typically crude measure of greenspace quantity or greenness. We explored the roles of different types of greenspace in the mental health of 10- to 15-year-old adolescents living in London, using data from Understanding Society, a UK household longitudinal study. We used data on 1,879 adolescents from waves 1-8 (2009-2018). As some adolescents had observations at multiple waves, 4,217 observations were included. Mental health and well-being measures were Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire scores, self-esteem, and happiness. Proportions of green land cover, parks & gardens, natural & semi-natural urban greenspaces, outdoor sports facilities, and total green land use were measured in 500 m around postcodes. We ran linear regressions, stratified by age, adjusted for confounders, and accounting for Understanding Society’s complex sampling design. We did not find consistent results across analyses, but we identified patterns worth exploring further: older adolescents (13-15 years) seemed to ‘benefit’ more from greenspace than younger adolescents (10-12 years); and parks & gardens and outdoor sports facilities seemed to be most ‘beneficial’. Overall, however, no clear conclusions can be drawn, and findings need to be confirmed in future studies.

Does pattern matter? Exploring the pathways and effects of urban green space on promoting life satisfaction through reducing air pollution

Urban green space is widely acknowledged to promote public health through multiple pathways. However, there is limited understanding of how the spatial patterns of green space might play different roles in such a process. This study examined potential pathways through which spatial patterns of green space improved people’s life satisfaction (LS) by reducing air pollution. A partial least squares structural equation model was adopted to explore these pathways in sampled urban areas (township) of China (n = 60). Green space spatial patterns were measured using landscape metrics of size, aggregation, fragmentation, and diversity. The results did not show that green space spatial pattern promoted LS by reducing air pollution. However, green space size and fragmentation were negatively associated with air pollution (mainly PM 2.5, PM 10, and NO 2). The pattern of highly densely distributed small green spaces was related to higher LS, as was high diversity of green space type. Simply adopting a fragmented green space pattern to reduce air pollution might be simultaneously associated with reduced LS. This alerts decision-makers and planners to the potential “double-edged sword” effect of optimizing green space structures to improve air quality, which may not yield strongly favorable results due to the impacts that hinder LS.

Smart national parks after COVID pandemic suitability to special needs in the Kingdom of Bahrain

The kingdom of Bahrain pays attention to creating different types of green spaces in various opportunities, types, and other forms inside the kingdom. Within the era of smart cities, this paper proposes the idea of using intelligent devices and tools to create sustainable, innovative park suites for all types of users. The main problem is the suitability of national parks to serve the special needs according to the COVID precaution by the ministry of health in Bahrain. Therefore, the research hypothesis is that intelligent devices will solve this problem. The research will discuss the national park conditions in Bahrain, then move to the impacts of COVID circumstances upon operating the parks and discuss the special needs within the parks due to the COVID precautions. The methodology of the research is divided into two main parts, the first is the theoretical part to discuss the literature review that supports the research and is followed by analytical studies for the case study in Bahrain.

A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE DISASTER PREVENTION AND RISK AVOIDANCE CAPABILITY OF URBAN DOTTED-LIKE GREEN OPEN SPACES IN CHINA AND JAPAN

The widely distributed and feature-rich dotted-like green open spaces are important disaster prevention nodes in the city’s comprehensive disaster prevention system. This study takes the urban dotted-like green open spaces in Qinhuai district of Nanjing City and Nishi-ku district of Fukuoka City as the research object, selects 17 aspects of space form, infrastructure and surrounding environment to conduct field surveys, and uses SPSS25.0 software to survey data perform descriptive statistical analysis and cluster analysis to reflect the problems of construction in both countries, and propose corresponding disaster prevention construction recommendations for different types of dotted-like green open spaces.

Associations between COVID-19 risk, multiple environmental exposures, and housing conditions: A study using individual-level GPS-based real-time sensing data

Few studies have used individual-level data to explore the association between COVID-19 risk with multiple environmental exposures and housing conditions. Using individual-level data collected with GPS-tracking smartphones, mobile air-pollutant and noise sensors, an activity-travel diary, and a questionnaire from two typical neighborhoods in a dense and well-developed city (i.e., Hong Kong), this study seeks to examine 1) the associations between multiple environmental exposures (i.e., different types of greenspace, PM2.5, and noise) and housing conditions (i.e., housing types, ownership, and overcrowding) with individuals’ COVID-19 risk both in residential neighborhoods and along daily mobility trajectories; 2) which social groups are disadvantaged in COVID-19 risk through the perspective of the neighborhood effect averaging problem (NEAP). Using separate multiple linear regression and logistical regression models, we found a significant negative association between COVID-19 risk with greenspace (i.e., NDVI) both in residential areas and along people's daily mobility trajectories. Meanwhile, we also found that high open space and recreational land exposure and poor housing conditions were positively associated with COVID-19 risk in high-risk neighborhoods, and noise exposure was positively associated with COVID-19 risk in low-risk neighborhoods. Further, people with work places in high-risk areas and poor housing conditions were disadvantaged in COVID-19 risk.

Shortcuts in urban green spaces: An analysis of incidental nature experiences associated with active mobility trips

Nature experiences and active mobility both deliver well-being and health benefits but have rarely been investigated together. Conceptualizations of nature experiences largely focus on intention, and the planned motivations for visits. However, nature experiences can also be perceived incidentally, if daily living activities like trips are encouraged towards green spaces. In a public participation GIS (PPGIS) survey of five local districts in Copenhagen, 517 respondents mapped 688 places along their walking or cycling shortcut trips through green spaces. This study investigated what types of green space provide opportunities for such shortcuts, what incidental nature experiences can be perceived there and the different responses of pedestrians and cyclists. This study also explored the relation between incidental nature experiences and green space characteristics in the form of tree cover density. Lastly, this study explored whether frequent short trips through green spaces relate to nature connectedness. The results show that public green spaces and urban cemeteries in Copenhagen allow for such shortcut trips. Enjoyment of pleasing views is the most perceived incidental nature experience. Pedestrians are found more prone to experience surprise, inspiration and emotion, while cyclists prefer shortcuts close to water, which they value highly. The study suggests that high tree cover density is key to delivering incidental nature experiences. Furthermore, the study shows that people who make frequent trips through green spaces have higher levels of nature connectedness, indicating that incidental nature experiences during shortcut trips trigger the reconnection of people and nature. The study’s results support a synergistic approach to integrating green spaces and active mobility in planning and management practice, where incidental nature experiences should be emphasized.

Biodiversity and the Recreational Value of Green Infrastructure in England

Green infrastructure refers to connected corridors of greenspaces within and beyond urban areas. It provides sustainable ecosystem goods and services for people and wildlife, enhancing their wellbeing and protecting them against climatic extremes. However, the exact contributing factors to the betterment of green infrastructure are not systematically examined at a national level. This study aims to identify what helps improve biodiversity and the recreational value of green infrastructure. The study uses hotspot analysis, ordinary least squares (OLS) regression and geographically weighted regression (GWR) to understand the spatial patterns of the relevant variables and outcomes. Findings suggest that high wildlife species richness was reported in Forestry Commission woodlands and country parks, whilst doorstep greens and village greens returned poor species richness. The recreational value of greenspace was affected the most by certain types of greenspace (e.g., woodlands) as well as the percentage of urban cover. They indicate that biodiversity is generally high in areas away from urban centres, while access to greenspace in an urban space brings us high recreational value. These results indicate that green infrastructure is a complex system that requires the right balance between different priorities and services.

Environmentally Friendly Application to Green Open Space on the banks of the Kayan River, Tanjung Selor Arab Village Kalimantan Utara Province

Green Open Space (RTH) is one of the important components of the environment as the main element of urban spatial planning which has a major influence on people's welfare. One type of urban green open space that must be maintained is river border green open space on the banks of the Kayan River, Tanjung Selor, Bulunagan Regency, North Kalimantan Province. Riparian zone is a buffer zone between aquatic ecosystems (rivers) and land. This is what efforts are made to create green open spaces that are environmentally friendly.In general, this study aims to find out how to apply environmentally friendly green open spaces on the banks of the Kayan River, Tanjung Selor Arab Village, North Kalimantan Province.The method in this study included direct observation of the spaciousness of the existing green open space conditions on the banks of the Kayan River, especially in the Arab village area, as well as direct observation at several predetermined points, namely: parking circulation, garbage disposals and lighting.The results of this study note that there is a need for improvements both physically and non-physically related to existing infrastructure on the banks of the Kayana River so that environmentally friendly applications are fulfilled.

Changes in visits to green spaces due to the COVID-19 pandemic: Focusing on the proportion of repeat visitors and the distances between green spaces and visitors’ places of residences

Through a quantitative approach, this study aimed to clarify the changes in the number of visitors and visits to green spaces according to green space type before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. We explored the changes in the proportion of repeat visitors and the distance between green spaces and visitors’ places of residence. We used KDDI Location Analyzer, which performs novel analysis using mobile phone GPS and census data. The study area included 10 target sites (urban parks and nature trails in the backcountry) located in the Sapporo metropolitan area in Japan. The survey period included snow-free seasons from 2019 to 2021, and 2019 was considered the period “before the pandemic.” The results revealed that the number of visits during the pandemic increased compared with those before the pandemic, except for those of urban parks near the city center. In 2020, the proportion of repeat visitors increased for all 10 target sites. In addition, since the outbreak of the pandemic, distances between all urban parks and visitors’ residences decreased. The same trend was observed for nature trails in the backcountry close to the city center. These findings indicate a generally decreasing trend in the number of visits to green spaces as many people have been refraining from visiting the site since the outbreak of the pandemic. Contrastingly, the number of visits by repeat visitors who reside close to the target sites has increased in some cases, which compensated for the general decreases.

Inventory of Landscape Development Projects in the District of Ouedo (Town of Abomey-Calavi in Benin): Constraints and Sustainable Management

Integral development is a collective and sustainable action, for which the Beninese government subscribes. The protection of nature is not considered as a danger to development, but becomes an indispensable condition for spatial planning, a guarantee of sustainable development. This research aims to understand the inventory of landscaping in the district of Ouèdo. The information collected is the layout of the space, the types of green space, the perceptions of buyers, the different types of housing built, the role of green spaces in the city. This information is collected from resource persons (head of the Ouèdo district, head of the district), buyers of social housing. A total of 150 people are interviewed. The data processing and the analysis of the results are done with the software, Word, the Excel spreadsheet, and the PEIR model. At the end of this research, it was found that 1,949 social housing units are built in Ouèdo . And not all accommodations have standings. Green space is dominated by accompanying green space (65%) and the least important green space (65%) is parks, road line trees and stadium green space. In addition, 85% of buyers believe that the number of green spaces in social housing is sufficient compared to 15%. Similarly, home buyers see green spaces as a way to reconnect with nature (78%), a way to fight against nature (60%) and green spaces very often to have fun (75%), get some fresh air (65%), and recharge your batteries. It is urgent to set up a sustainable management mode for social housing in the city of Ouèdo.