Use-Related and Socio-Demographic Variations in Urban Green Space Preferences

Amy Phillips, Ahmed Z. Khan and Frank Canters
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Amy Phillips: Cartography & GIS Research Group, Department of Geography, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
Ahmed Z. Khan: Building, Architecture & Town Planning (BATir) Department, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
Frank Canters: Cartography & GIS Research Group, Department of Geography, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-22

Abstract: This paper explores use-related and socio-demographic variations in the valuation of urban green space (UGS) characteristics in the Brussels Capital Region (BCR), lending insights into the valuation of the cultural ecosystem services provided by UGS. Mismatches in the supply of and demand for UGS characteristics are also identified. Knowledge on the ways in which valuation of UGS characteristics vary and on an inadequate supply of UGS characteristics should guide and inspire planning and management of UGS to ensure that UGS provision meets the unique needs of communities. Online surveys were conducted in the BCR to determine how people use UGS, how they experience these spaces, and whether these spaces fulfil their needs for urban green Our findings indicate that socio-demographic characteristics (namely age and household composition) correspond with distinct patterns of use and valuation. Two subgroupings of users are identified: nature-oriented users and social users. Our accessibility analysis shows that, compared to social users, nature-oriented users tend to travel farther to reach their most frequently used UGS but are more often satisfied with the supply of UGS characteristics. Our findings point to an inadequate supply of nature and overcrowding of UGS in the city centre of Brussels. We recommend that planners not only consider size and distance in UGS standards but also consider the demand for UGS characteristics as well.

Keywords: cultural ecosystem services; urban green space; green space use; ecosystem service mismatch; ecosystem service supply; ecosystem service demand (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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