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Urban Green Fabric Analysis Promoting Sustainable Planning in Guatemala City

Author

Listed:
  • Fernando Castillo-Cabrera

    (Landscape Ecology Lab, Department of Geography, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10099 Berlin, Germany
    Centro de Estudios Conservacionistas-CECON-, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacia, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, 01010 Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala)

  • Thilo Wellmann

    (Landscape Ecology Lab, Department of Geography, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10099 Berlin, Germany
    Department of Computational Landscape Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ-, 04318 Leipzig, Germany)

  • Dagmar Haase

    (Landscape Ecology Lab, Department of Geography, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10099 Berlin, Germany
    Department of Computational Landscape Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ-, 04318 Leipzig, Germany)

Abstract

Urbanization rate in Central America is the second fastest worldwide and its major cities face challenges regarding urban sustainability. Urban Green Fabric (UGF) is an important material condition for the urban quality of life and, therefore, key to planning processes. We performed an analysis of the UGF of Guatemala City including the identification and classification of UGF, their spatial pattern analysis, construction of ensembles of districts (zones) and revealing citizen’s interactions with UGF. We used remote sensing and land use mapping techniques, spatial metrics and a questionnaire survey. Main results are the UGF map of Guatemala City and six ensembles of zones based on a set of indicators. We further revealed citizens’ recognition of green spaces, their perceptions about green space amount and availability as well as their support for UGF future interventions. Finally, we discuss the implications for planning promoted by our results and suggest three actions for UGF sustainability: Creation of new green spaces, protecting existing green spaces and enhancing the mosaic with different green spaces types. UGF is an essential decision support tool for a diversity of actors.

Suggested Citation

  • Fernando Castillo-Cabrera & Thilo Wellmann & Dagmar Haase, 2020. "Urban Green Fabric Analysis Promoting Sustainable Planning in Guatemala City," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-26, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:10:y:2020:i:1:p:18-:d:469822
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    References listed on IDEAS

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