Evaluating Dual Ecological and Well-Being Benefits from an Urban Restoration Project

Siân de Bell, Hilary Graham and Piran C. L. White
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Siân de Bell: Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, Wentworth Way, York YO10 5NG, UK
Hilary Graham: Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
Piran C. L. White: Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, Wentworth Way, York YO10 5NG, UK

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 2, 1-28

Abstract: The degradation of urban natural spaces reduces their ability to benefit human populations. Restoration can support urban sustainability by improving both the ecological health of these spaces and the public benefits they provide, but studies rarely combine both perspectives. We assessed the ecological and social benefits of an urban river restoration project relative to an unrestored river on the basis of the following four principles: Increasing ecological integrity; benefitting and engaging society; taking account of the past and future; and sustainability. Ecological health at each site was assessed by analyzing macroinvertebrate samples. The social benefits were measured by conducting focus groups with local users of green spaces surrounding the two rivers and comparing their responses. Restoration increased the ecological health of the river and was viewed positively by users, enhancing the river as a space to visit for psychological benefits. However, there were concerns over the erasure of the cultural heritage of the area. Our findings indicate that the long-term sustainability of restoration projects, particularly in urban areas, can be enhanced by integrating ecological and social dimensions. Although short-term ecological improvements may be small, they have the potential to provide a range of benefits for human populations.

Keywords: ecological restoration; river restoration; success; macroinvertebrates; landscape perception; place attachment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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