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Human Dimensions of Urban Blue and Green Infrastructure during a Pandemic. Case Study of Moscow (Russia) and Perth (Australia)

Author

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  • Diana Dushkova

    (Department of Urban and Environmental Sociology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), 04318 Leipzig, Germany
    Agrarian and Technological Institute, Peoples Friendship University of Russia (RUDN), 117198 Moscow, Russia)

  • Maria Ignatieva

    (School of Design, The University of Western Australia (UWA), 6009 Perth, Australia)

  • Michael Hughes

    (Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University (MU), 6150 Murdoch, Australia)

  • Anastasia Konstantinova

    (Agrarian and Technological Institute, Peoples Friendship University of Russia (RUDN), 117198 Moscow, Russia)

  • Viacheslav Vasenev

    (Agrarian and Technological Institute, Peoples Friendship University of Russia (RUDN), 117198 Moscow, Russia
    Department of Soil Geography and Landscape, Wageningen University and Research Centre (WUR), 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Elvira Dovletyarova

    (Agrarian and Technological Institute, Peoples Friendship University of Russia (RUDN), 117198 Moscow, Russia)

Abstract

Significant challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted that features of a modern, sustainable and resilient city should not only relate to fulfilling economic and social urban strategies, but also to functional urban design, in particular, related to urban blue and green infrastructure (BGI). Using results from a web-based questionnaire survey conducted May–July 2020 in Moscow (Russia) and Perth (Australia), this paper provides insights regarding citizens’ needs for and values of urban BGI as well as their changes during and after the COVID-19 restrictions. Survey data collected during the lockdown period have captured information about people’s ability to access green and blue spaces within urban BGI, inequalities in access, feelings, and values as well as needs and perceived pathways of future development of urban natural environment. In both cities, lockdowns limited access of people to green spaces which affected their mental and physical health. Survey results revealed that the quality, functionality, and location of open green spaces illustrated a disparity in distribution, meaning that in many cases several communities from particular neighborhoods suffered from limited access to BGI. Furthermore, in addition to analyzing perceptions and values of urban nature during the COVID-19 pandemic, some suggestions for improvement of urban BGI based on the survey responses are provided.

Suggested Citation

  • Diana Dushkova & Maria Ignatieva & Michael Hughes & Anastasia Konstantinova & Viacheslav Vasenev & Elvira Dovletyarova, 2021. "Human Dimensions of Urban Blue and Green Infrastructure during a Pandemic. Case Study of Moscow (Russia) and Perth (Australia)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-24, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:8:p:4148-:d:532270
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Jishu Huang & Yun Wang, 2023. "Research on Social Service Effectiveness Evaluation for Urban Blue Spaces—A Case Study of the Huangpu River Core Section in Shanghai," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-26, July.
    3. Alexandra Jane Crossley & Alessio Russo, 2022. "Has the Pandemic Altered Public Perception of How Local Green Spaces Affect Quality of Life in the United Kingdom?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-14, June.
    4. Andrew Yu & Stephanie Kwan Nga Lam, 2022. "Assessing Open Space in Scotland: Reliability and Construct Validity of the Open Space Scale," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-11, November.
    5. Maddalena Buffoli & Silvia Mangili & Stefano Capolongo & Andrea Brambilla, 2022. "Explorative Study on Urban Public Space Renovation during COVID-19: Test of a Visual Web-Based Survey about the City of Saint German en Laye, France," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-17, September.
    6. Diana Dushkova & Maria Ignatieva & Anastasia Konstantinova & Viacheslav Vasenev & Elvira Dovletyarova & Yury Dvornikov, 2022. "Human-Nature Interactions during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic in Moscow, Russia: Exploring the Role of Contact with Nature and Main Lessons from the City Responses," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-31, May.

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