Social Relevance of Ecosystem Services Provided by Urban Green Infrastructures: A Mixed Qualitative–Quantitative Case Study Approach

Sofia Baldessari, Isabella De Meo, Maria Giulia Cantiani () and Alessandro Paletto
Additional contact information
Sofia Baldessari: Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l’analisi dell’economia agraria (CREA), Research Centre for Forestry and Wood, 38123 Trento, Italy
Isabella De Meo: Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l’analisi dell’economia agraria (CREA), Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, 50023 Firenze, Italy
Maria Giulia Cantiani: Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy
Alessandro Paletto: Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l’analisi dell’economia agraria (CREA), Research Centre for Forestry and Wood, 38123 Trento, Italy

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 2, 1-17

Abstract: Urban green infrastructures (UGIs) are important elements of the urban matrix providing ecological functions and several ecosystem services beneficial to citizens. Recently, their contribution to the well-being and quality of life of citizens has been widely recognized by both the scientific community and policymakers. This study aims to explore the social relevance of UGI ecosystem services through a mixed qualitative–quantitative case study approach. First, a quantitative literature review was conducted using bibliometric network analysis, followed by a participatory process through a Scientific Café with a sample of Italian stakeholders involved in the UGIs’ planning and management. The bibliometric network analysis identified 443 documents (from 2000 to 2024) primarily focused on three ecosystem services provided by UGIs—climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and cultural services, such as health benefits, aesthetic, and recreation. The qualitative results of Scientific Café highlight a particular interest of stakeholders in cultural services such as physical and mental benefits provided by UGIs, as well as improving the urban aesthetic value. Additionally, the role of UGIs in microclimate regulation and heat mitigation was emphasized. The combined analysis of perspectives from the scientific community, policy-makers, stakeholders, and citizens provides a foundation for developing a participatory governance approach to UGIs.

Keywords: bibliometric network analysis; Scientific Café; participatory process; focus group discussions; green areas; Italy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/2/230/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/2/230/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jlands:v:14:y:2025:i:2:p:230-:d:1573784

Access Statistics for this article

Land is currently edited by Ms. Carol Ma

More articles in Land from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().