Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1016/j.ufug.2019.126501
Document accepted manuscript
Title (Primary) Biocultural diversity (BCD) in European cities – interactions between motivations, experiences and environment in public parks
Author Vierikko, K.; Gonçalves, P.; Haase, D.; Elands, B.; Ioja, C.; Jaatsi, M.; Pieniniemi, M.; Lindgren, J.; Grilo, F.; Santos, M.; Niemelä, J.; Yli-Pelkonen, V.
Source Titel Urban Forestry & Urban Greening
Year 2020
Department CLE
Volume 48
Page From art. 126501
Language englisch
Keywords Biocultural diversity; relationship; place-based research; public parks; urban
Abstract Urban green spaces (UGS) provide multiple benefits, and public parks in particular have a key role in supporting ecological and social sustainability in cities, contributing to human-nature interactions. We studied the interrelationships between uses, experiences and the environment by adopting a novel concept of urban biocultural diversity (BCD). The concept identifies three interlinked spheres of urban BCD: materialised, lived and stewardship. We conducted place-based research in 33 parks located in four European capitals: Helsinki, Berlin, Bucharest and Lisbon. A total of 1474 visitors were interviewed concerning their motivations to use the park and their experiences during the visit. Using an open-ended survey, we revealed more than 50 motivations for park use and over 100 features people enjoyed during their visits. On the other hand, visitors mentioned far fewer things that disturbed them (60). We revealed that despite the fact motivations to use parks were strongly human-oriented, visitors widely enjoyed the environmental characteristics of parks, and especially nature. We found that parks located in neighbourhoods with low socio-economic status and outside the central area of the city were structurally less diverse than parks located in the city core. The structurally diverse parks enhanced motivations to use them, and increased overall enjoyments of the environment. We revealed clear differences in motivations and enjoyments between cities, implying that the day-to-day practices of people using and experiencing nature varies between cities.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=22393
Vierikko, K., Gonçalves, P., Haase, D., Elands, B., Ioja, C., Jaatsi, M., Pieniniemi, M., Lindgren, J., Grilo, F., Santos, M., Niemelä, J., Yli-Pelkonen, V. (2020):
Biocultural diversity (BCD) in European cities – interactions between motivations, experiences and environment in public parks
Urban For. Urban Green. 48 , art. 126501 10.1016/j.ufug.2019.126501