Urban Green Spaces Research Articles

Vegetation density is the main driver of insect species richness and diversity in small private urban front gardens

Urbanisation changes natural ecosystems and vegetation to urban green spaces, and causes insect communities to experience novel challenges for survival. New evidence suggests that urban green spaces, no matter how small, can provide meaningful habitats for insects. Information on design and management of small gardens (<6m2) in dense urban areas is still scarce. In particular, it is hardly known which garden designs provide most benefits to insects. We surveyed 65 small urban façade gardens (μ=1.7m2) in Amsterdam and The Hague in The Netherlands and measured various garden attributes that are expected to be relevant for general, flower-visiting and herbivorous insect species richness and diversity. Plant coverage and richness were the strongest predictors of insect biodiversity and species richness. We found no support for associations with native plants or garden size. Synthesis and applicationsTo strengthen insect biodiversity in the urban environment, we recommend future design of urban green spaces to focus on maximising coverage and richness of vegetation. Although there are advantages to using native species, we acknowledge that garden owners often prefer exotic species. Some of these can also affect insect diversity and abundances positively.

Urban green space, human heat perception and sleep quality: A repeated cross-sectional study

Urban heat poses significant challenges to public health, as exposure to high temperatures is associated to heat stress, resulting in heat strain, sleep deprivation, and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. As the frequency of heat waves is increasing due to global warming, urban green spaces are often proposed as a nature-based solution to mitigate urban heat stress. This study investigated the impact of urban green space on perceived heat stress and sleep quality, using questionnaires and detailed land cover data. We surveyed 584 respondents during four heat and four control events in the summers of 2021 and 2022, assessing perceived heat stress, sleep quality, and mental health. Using structural equation models, this study analysed the influence of both tree cover and grass and shrub cover on perceived heat stress and sleep quality, while controlling for risk and vulnerability factors. The outcomes revealed that during heat events, enhanced tree cover was associated with reduced heat stress (B = -0.484, 95% CI [-0.693, -0.275], p = 0.001), while increased grass and shrub cover was associated with both reduced heat stress (B = -0.361 [-0.529, -0.193], p = 0.000) and improved sleep quality (B = -0. 241 [-0.399, -0.083], p = 0.003). Conversely, during control events, stress indicators were more strongly associated with individual vulnerability factors rather than surrounding green space. These results emphasize the importance of combining trees with lower vegetation in urban planning to mitigate heat-related stress and enhance sleep quality, thereby improving overall well-being during heat events.

Exploring the pathways of urban green space exposure on respiratory health: An empirical study in Nanjing, China

Pathways of association between green space (GS) exposure and respiratory health continue stimulating scholars' research interest. However, the mechanisms underlying the multidimensional association between GS exposure and respiratory health remain to be clarified. Therefore, this study aimed to construct a research framework for exploring the mechanisms affecting the hypothesized pathways (physical activity, air pollution) based on the dynamic quantification of multidimensional exposure indicators (spatial and visual exposure). This study used urban green spaces in Nanjing, China, as sample sites for a pilot experiment. The parallel mediating effect of GS exposure on respiratory health through physical activity and air pollution was explored by partial least squares (PLS) modeling, and the effect of differences in GS exposure levels on this parallel mediating model was explored. The results showed that a dynamic monitoring system of multiple indicators is more conducive to characterizing the actual GS exposure of the population. Promoting physical activity and reducing air quality were both mediating pathways affecting GS exposure and respiratory health, with physical activity being the most critical mediating variable, accounting for 43.06% and 51.02% of the total indirect effects, respectively. And variables such as age, BMI, and gender do not affect the mechanism. The respiratory health-promoting benefits of performing short-term exposure in urban green spaces had a lagged effect of at least 4hours. The results of this study will help environmental epidemiologists to elucidate the pathways and mechanisms by which the green space system affects respiratory health and provide evidence for local governments to implement efficient and respiratory-healthy green space planning and design.

Patterns and causes of soil heavy metals and carbon stock in green spaces along an urbanization gradient

The surge in urbanization has correspondingly given rise to exacerbated carbon footprint and burgeoning heavy metal (HM) contamination, constituting a critical impediment to the realization of environmentally sustainable urban development pathways. Therefore, it is highly essential to investigate the impacts of urbanization process on soil carbon, heavy metals (HMs), as well as their interrelationships. Employing remote sensing and land use data within a 45 km radius in Chongqing, this study selected 31 sites to assess the variation in urban green spaces (UGSs) carbon sequestration capabilities and associated HM pollution risks across differing urbanization levels. Results showed that urbanization dynamics and land use history play a more decisive role than current anthropogenic management in shaping the distribution of soil carbon and HMs within urban environments. The average soil organic carbon (SOC) distribution of UGSs is 8.47 mg ha−1 (1.50–24.20 mg ha−1), concurrent with moderate HM pollution showing Ni: 32.03–33.50 mg kg−1, Pb: 27.93–29.65 mg kg−1, Cu: 26.97–41.20 mg kg−1, while Cd exhibits the most severe pollution range of 0.23–0.30 mg kg−1. The rate of urbanization significantly influences SOC stocks, exhibiting an increase when the urbanization rate is below 70.79 % and a decrease upon surpassing this threshold. The concentration of HMs is predominantly determined by the historical usage of the land, with a marked escalation correlating with the duration of land utilization history. These relationships were quantitatively modeled through the application of fitted linear functions. The structural equation model demonstrated that UGSs operating without anthropogenic disturbance tend towards degradation, indicating that temporary homeostasis might be sustained via the addition of N and P nutrients and pH modulation. In conclusion, we formulate an Urban Green Spaces Development Hypothesis that aims to shed light on the multifaceted challenges encountered by cities amidst varying degrees of urbanization and, concurrently, to probe potential ameliorative strategies.

Investigating the efficacy of a fast urban climate model for spatial planning of green and blue spaces for heat mitigation

Problems caused by urban heat have prompted the exploration of urban greenery and blue spaces for heat mitigation. Various numerical models can simulate heat-related processes, but their use as support-tools to urban planners remains underexplored, particularly at the city-scale, due to high computational demand and complexity of such models. This study investigates the spatial relationships between urban heat, urban form and urban green and blue spaces with the fast climate model TARGET (The Air-temperature Response to Green/blue-infrastructure Evaluation Tool), which only requires minimal inputs of standard meteorological data, land cover and building geometry data. Using the City of Zurich as our case study, we: (i) validated the TARGET model against air temperature measurements from private sensor networks, (ii) performed a sensitivity analysis to identify key variables affecting urban heat, and (iii) investigated urban heat relationships with blue-green cover at locations frequented by pedestrians. Presence of urban green and blue spaces across the region shows potential for reducing local air temperatures by up to 5.2 °C (with urban forest). Investigating this relationship at different locations in the city revealed key districts that should potentially be targeted for reduction of pedestrian heat-impacts, due to their high pedestrian traffic, fewer green and blue spaces and high daytime air temperatures. Our results not only provide insights into the cooling effect of different amounts of green and blue features in the urban environment, but also demonstrates the application and integration potential of simplified models like TARGET to support the planning of more liveable future cities.

Exploring the Potential Relationship between Cooling Green Space and Built-up area: Analysis of Community Green Space Characteristics Based on GWPCA

Rapid urbanization exacerbates urban heat island (UHI) problem. Although urban green space (UGS) can produce multiple benefits for mitigating UHI, the accompanying problems of urban development cause multiple pressures on greenery. Therefore, the pattern of green spaces should be adjusted to adapt to the current situation of the built-up area, fully utilizing its cooling effect, which is of great significance for achieving sustainable and balanced urban development. We selected 849 community units in Harbin city for the study, calculated the urban green space pattern index (UGSP) based on geographically weighted principal component analysis (GWPCA), And used bivariate choropleth map and Cartesian coordinate system to explore the spatial relationship between UGSP and associated characteristics of urbanization (e.g., land function diversity and development intensity). The results showed the following. (1) Compared with traditional PCA, GWPCA can capture local details of UGSP, especially proportion of tree area was the most sensitive factor in the urban core area, and FRAC_MN and LSI were the sensitive factors in the west and south of urban outer areas, respectively. (2) The matching degree between development intensity (I) and UGSP was slightly better than that between land function diversity (D) and UGSP, and showed a more egalitarian phenomenon. (3) The equilibrium value (dLow) presented a relatively random spatial distribution when UGSP was less than D/I, and the unbalanced value (dHigh) was scattered in the core area. Both dLow and dHigh were concentrated outside the urban core area when UGSP was greater than D/I. Our study provides an effective guidance for community greenery to mitigate UHI and realize the harmonious coexistence between city and nature.

Is compensation a myth? Modelling the use of public and private urban green spaces in relation to the geographical context

The compensation hypothesis postulates that the absence of green spaces in residential areas leads to a greater use of public green spaces and nature in general. This paper tests this hypothesis by focusing on the use of public and private urban green spaces. A holistic approach is adopted that considers the complexity of residential context and the use of urban, peripheral and private green spaces. A survey was conducted in two medium-sized French cities (Dijon and Besançon) to identify how their green spaces were used and perceived. The residential context was described through multiple spatial and environmental metrics (physical and visual access to nature, noise level, private green space area) that were GIS-referenced to postal addresses. On the basis of that data, the compensation hypothesis was explored using a PLS path model. The results show the absence of compensatory behaviour when considering just the overall relationships between the use of different types of green spaces. However, conditional compensatory behaviours can be detected when allowance is made for other variables (physical and visual accessibility to nature, type of housing, dwelling floor area, noise level). These results remain dependent on the geographical context of the city, with a higher compensation effect where natural areas are less accessible.

The Relationship Between LST, NDVI, NDBI, and OTCI in Urban Green Space in Jakarta With Geospatial Data

Abstract Mapping uses geospatial data on the Vegetation Index, Chlorophyll Index or OTCI, Land Surface Temperature, the Built-up area Index in Jakarta and calculates the correlation of these variables using the Pearson correlation method with samples as many as 30. The correlation results of NDBI, NDVI, LST, and OTCI show that there are strong and not strong relationships between the two variables. There are strong correlations between the two variables, these are NDBI and LST with a correlation of 0.751, NDBI with NDVI has -0.904, NDVI with LST has -0.711, and OTCI with NDVI has 0.428. Meanwhile, the correlation is less strong between the two variables, these are OTCI and LST with a correlation of -0.140 and OTCI with NDBI with a correlation of -0.268.

Crumb bums? Context dependence in ecosystem services supplied by common urban animals

AbstractBolstering the supply of animal‐mediated ecosystem services is an emerging priority in human‐altered landscapes. Such services are driven not only by environmental factors that shape communities of species that provide the service but also by the ecological context that affects the behavior of these species. In this study, we used a field experiment to investigate an ecosystem service that depends on resource use behavior—the removal of littered food waste by birds and squirrels in urban green spaces. We first explore how landscape‐scale urbanization affects the composition of the litter‐removing species community. We then examine two facets of waste removal provisioning—the amount of food removed and the speed of removal—and how they vary across ecological contexts represented by green space type (picnic areas, urban parks, and forest preserves), bird and squirrel abundance, number of people, amount of existing litter, and weather conditions. We found that although landscape‐scale urbanization affected the composition of species within green spaces, service provisioning was context‐dependent. Littered food removal services were provided at higher rates in park and picnic sites than in forest preserves and the abundance of eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) was a main driver of littered food removal services. Where squirrels were abundant, more food was removed, and food removal began and was completed more quickly. When squirrel abundance is accounted for, removal from picnic areas is higher than park sites, indicating context dependence in this service is likely driven by squirrel behavioral responses to ambient food waste levels in these habitats. This study highlights the role of common urban species in providing a valuable ecosystem service and the importance of ecological context in its supply. Efforts to account for animal‐mediated ecosystem services in human‐altered landscapes should address the potential for services to be driven by a single species and context‐dependent factors that influence behavior.

Dog swimming and ectoparasiticide water contamination in urban conservation areas: A case study on Hampstead Heath, London

Widespread occurrence of two ectoparasiticide compounds in the aquatic environment, imidacloprid and fipronil, have prompted concerns about their potential environmental impacts. However, very little focus has been placed on water bodies in urban green spaces used for dog swimming. In this study, occurrence of both substances on Hampstead Heath, London, was compared in ponds with (n = 3) and without dog swimming activity (n = 3), as well as connecting streams above, between, and below these ponds (n = 6). Imidacloprid and fipronil were detected at main swimming points in dog swimming ponds at mean concentrations of 309 ± 104 ng/L and 32 ± 13 ng/L, respectively, indicating a high environmental risk in all samples. Measured concentrations in ponds not accessible for dog swimming were either below the limits of detection or limits of quantification for both chemicals. Across all ponds, there was a strong positive correlation between measured dog swimming activities and concentrations of imidacloprid (R2 = 0.91) and fipronil (R2 = 0.79). Some contamination was detected in connecting streams between ponds. A wider chemical analysis for the presence of urban waste water chemical residue signatures indicated minimal contamination, including in source waters. A survey of visitors who allow their dogs to swim in the sampled ponds confirmed frequent use of products containing imidacloprid and fipronil. In total, 86 % of 101 dog owners were unaware of the potential environmental impacts of products, and 94 % indicated that protecting nature would be an important consideration when selecting products. Besides the current practice of limiting dog access to ponds, information collected on product use and dog swimming practices identified additional opportunities to reduce contamination. We suggest that more cooperation between industry, regulators, veterinarians, green space managers, and the public can reduce risks to urban biodiversity while maintaining recreational benefits for dog owners and dogs.

Association between public and private greenspace availability and electricity consumption

Natural environment including greenspace has been suggested to be beneficial for health and well-being of urban residents. Several mechanisms have been proposed, including mitigation of environmental stressors, such as air pollution, and thermal stress. However, the role of greenspace on reducing electricity consumption in the urban environments has not yet been reported using these mechanisms. The present study used the annual electricity consumption of Yazd city dwellers in the period (2016–2019) and examined its association with different greenspace indicators at their residential addresses. Different private and public greenspace indicators were defined, including private garden access and area, distance to the nearest park (regional and local), percentage of land covered with urban greenspace and residential surrounding greenness (by normalized difference vegetation index [NDVI]) at different buffer size around residential addresses. Different demographic, urban design and contextual variables were included as the covariates in the models. An inverse association was found between the increase of greenspace in a private garden and the amount of electricity consumption in all the included buildings. One-unit increase in NDVI was significantly associated with 2046.5 kWh/y lower electricity consumption (95 % CI: 1151.79: 2941.21). An increase of 1 m2 in the area of a private garden was associated to 1.2 kWh/y lower energy consumption. A stronger association was also found between the private garden area and lower electricity consumption in contemporary urban texture compared to two other urban texture (contemporary urban texture: β: −1.97, 95 % CI: −2.39 to −1.54, old urban texture: β: −1.21, 95 % CI: −1.97 to −0.46, and historical urban texture: β: −0.25, 95 % CI: −1 to 0.49). The results of this study can strengthen previous theories about eco-friendly cities and sustainable cities. Promoting availability and access to greenspace can help urban sustainability through lower energy consumption.

The influence of urban green and recreational areas on the price of housing in Zagreb

Urban green and recreational spaces are important for residents and one of the foundations for the functioningof cities. They offer numerous benefits, including the influence on the price of real estate as an economic benefit.In this paper, the influence of green and recreational areas in Zagreb on the price of apartments in residential buildings is analysed using the hedonic pricing model. The data for the study was processed and analysed using a geographic information system. A local hedonic price model was developed. The results show that some of the observed green and recreational areas increase the price of housing due to their proximity, while others decrease it. Some areas have no influence on the price of housing. The influence of the observed areas on housing prices was heterogeneous. Spatial differences were also found in the influence of the observed areas on housing prices. The most attractive factors when choosing a place to live are Jarun and the parks in the city centre. The price of apartments that near the Jarun increases by 41 EUR/m2 if the apartment is 100 m closer to the Jarun. The price of the apartment increases by 91 EUR/m2 the closer the apartment is to the parks in the city centre (per 100 m). Apartments near Jarun and the parks in the city centre are not available for residents with lower socio-economic status. The forest areas, Maksimir Park and the banks of the Sava river are not favoured when choosing a place to live. Neighbourhoods near these areas are available to the lower socioeconomic status population. Bundek raises the price of one part of the apartments and lowers the price of the other. The results of this study can contribute to the study of green gentrification in Zagreb, but further research is needed on socio-economic indicators and other changes in the region.

Exploring the equitable inclusion of diverse voices in urban green design, planning and policy development: a scoping review protocol

IntroductionDespite the increasingly evidenced positive impacts of green space on human physical and mental health, green spaces remain inequitably distributed across different socioeconomic groups. Urban planning and design should prioritise...

Effect of low carbon policy on residents’ health: Evidence from China

A good ecological environment is foundational to the survival and health of society. This study utilized data from the China Family Panel Studies to empirically examine the impact of implementing low-carbon cities on residents’ health. The results revealed that low-carbon cities enhanced residents’ health. Mechanism analysis revealed that the construction of low-carbon cities fosters residents’ health by improving air quality, expanding urban green spaces, encouraging residents to engage in physical exercise, and enhancing residents’ mental well-being. This research offers policy insights to guide governments in pursuing a sustainable development path that prioritizes both natural environments and residents’ health.

The Garden Vegetation Coverage Monitoring and Spatial Analysis Model based on Remote Sensing Technology

A correlation study was conducted between SPOTVEGNDVI monthly data and rainfall data in Yulin, Yan ’an, Xi ’an and Ankang of Shaanxi Province from 2015 to 2022. The ecological effects of urban vegetation cover were studied using the revised standardized Vegetation Index (NDVIC). It is found that NDVIC has a strong correlation with precipitation, and its correlation increases with the increase of altitude. Vegetation cover in the Ankang area increased significantly from 2016 to 2022. The net primary productivity index of urban green space increased significantly in October 2016-2022, which is an objective reflection of the effectiveness of urban green construction. This study can lay a theoretical foundation for the objective quantitative assessment of the ecological effects of urban vegetation cover.

Urban greenery distribution and its link to social vulnerability

Urban greenery plays a pivotal role in urban environments, impacting the environmental well-being and people’s comfort. Several studies have demonstrated a strong link between urban greenery and socioeconomic status but still lack an analysis of greenery on uneven distribution in social vulnerability. This study assesses how multi-level greenery rates distribute and associate the social vulnerability of people in 429 census tracts in the Seattle metropolitan area. It integrates multi-source urban informatics data, including remote sensing data and street view imagery, to identify various vegetation types. Then, it uses the interpretable machine learning model to explore the relationship between street-level green space distribution and community vulnerability. The results show a serious problem of uneven distribution of green spaces in urban centers since urban areas are built up and fragmented the landscape. Areas with low urban greening in the Seattle area have higher rates of poverty, unemployment, racial segregation, and housing overcrowding. Besides, greening features like street green views, which are more related to human perception, have a great association with social vulnerability. These findings contribute to the urban green spaces to better promote community equity and vulnerability.

Sacred sites provide urban green spaces that maintain bird diversity in the megacity of Tokyo, Japan

Green spaces in cities are thought to play an important role in maintaining urban biodiversity. However, it is difficult to create large new areas of green space in big cities. Therefore, existing green spaces need to be conserved and properly managed to conserve urban biodiversity. In big Japanese cities, sacred sites such as shrines, temples, and historic parks are some of the common types of green space. In addition to their role as religious spaces, they may also play an important role in urban biodiversity conservation because of their function as long-term reserves of natural vegetation. In this study, we examined the function of shrines, temples, and historic parks in Bunkyo ward, Tokyo, in maintaining bird diversity by comparing them with urban parks. In addition, a vegetation survey was conducted to identify environmental factors that affect bird diversity, and differences in the bird species observed in each type of green space are discussed. The heterogeneity of bird species composition between study sites was higher among shrines and temples than among urban parks.Forest bird abundance was higher during the breeding season and bird species richness was higher in winter at shrines and temples and historic parks than in urban parks. Bird diversity was positively affected by the abundance of shrubs and evergreen trees. We found that sacred sites were more important than urban parks for maintaining bird diversity. The results also suggested that differences in vegetation structure are a cause of this pattern, and small green spaces in the grounds of sacred sites are managed in a way that is more suitable for maintaining bird diversity.However, shrines and temples, despite their strong historical and cultural value, are threatened by recent urbanization. It is necessary to maintain and properly manage these green spaces as part of urban ecosystems.

Exploring Factors Influencing on Urban Residents’ Environmental Responsible Behaviour in Urban Green Space of Henan Province, China

One of the main research directions in current environmental responsibility behavior is to explore its influencing factors. Therefore, this study constructs a two-dimensional model of "cognition + affective → behavior" to analyze the influencing mechanism of "cognition" and "affection" factors on urban residents' environmental responsibility behavior (URERB). Among them, environmental knowledge (EK) as an explanation of environmental cognitive factors, and place attachment (PA) and anticipated emotions (AE) as an explanation of environmental affective factors, are considered as independent variables; URERB is the dependent variable. Based on this model, three research hypotheses are proposed. The research results show that: 1) "cognition + affective" factors can effectively assess the influencing factors of URERB; 2) environmental knowledge has a positive impact on URERB; 3) place attachment has a direct and significant positive effect on URERB; 4) anticipated emotions do not show a direct and significant impact on URERB. Therefore, by implementing the "cognition + affective" strategy, urban green spaces can effectively promote URERB and stimulate urban residents' proactive participation in environmental protection.

Perception of urban green space among university students in Bangladesh.

Public parks and other green areas are crucial components of urban development. Urban management in emerging countries such as Bangladesh faces major challenges, especially because of the socio-environmental impacts of urbanization. Urban management initiatives in developing countries sometimes neglect crucial services for university students, such as study environments and recreational facilities. This study aimed to investigate students' perceptions of urban green space (UGS) and its potential benefits to our daily lives at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) in Sylhet, Bangladesh, We collected data from 438 respondents by using a survey questionnaire-based stated preference approach as a methodological tool, using non-monetary assertions as the basis for the method. The survey included questions about respondents' social background, the frequency with which they visited green spaces, the benefits of urban green spaces and their perception of urban green spaces. We performed statistical analysis both descriptive and inferential statistics. Our findings suggest that 71.7% of students primarily use street trees and peace gardens as their main sites for urban green spaces. The study suggests that the advantages of urban green spaces, which include physical, mental, and environmental benefits, are strongly associated with criteria such as gender, academic level, and vulnerable to home locality for climate change (CC) or extreme weather events (EWEs). The Binary Logistic regression analysis identified urban life as the most influential factor. The correct classification rate was approximately 74.7%, indicating the model's strong accuracy in classification. Students who have lived in urban areas for more than 20 years have a reduced awareness of urban green spaces at 5% level of significance. Planning and policymaking for the creation and administration of urban green spaces, considering aspects like land use and environmental sustainability, could benefit from this study.

Conservation value and carbon sequestration potential of urban green spaces in a growing city: Case of the city of Bouaflé

Faced with the effects of climate change, green spaces are very determining in the provision of ecosystem services, particularly in carbon sequestration. This is why, from a perspective of sustainable management of these high-value spaces, this study was carried out. Surface and itinerant survey methods were combined to collect floristic data. At the end of the inventories, 99 species distributed between 33 families and 75 genera including 24 species with special status were recorded in eight (08) types of development. The total biomass of all the species inventoried at Bouaflé is 4385.78 t, corresponding to a carbon rate of 2192.91 t for a CO2 equivalent of 8047.99 t. The economic value of the rate of CO2 sequestered by all types of development varies from 24143.97 Euros, or 15814274 FCFA according to the CDM carbon price to 112671.86 Euros, or 73800068 FCFA according to the REDD+ carbon price. Social and educational establishments recorded the highest biomass (1841.88 t) while the lowest biomass (5.53 t) was estimated in sports equipment. The average biomass estimated in all types of development is of the order of 232.02±185.64 t/ha, which corresponds to a carbon rate of 116.01±92.82 t/ha and an equivalent CO2 of 425.76±340.65 t/ha. Considering each type of development, the average value of biomass varies between 24.83 t/ha in sports facilities and 468.79 t/ha in cemeteries.