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The Value of Urban Nature in Terms of Providing Ecosystem Services Related to Health and Well-Being: An Empirical Comparative Pilot Study of Cities in Germany and the Czech Republic

Author

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  • Ralf-Uwe Syrbe

    (Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development, 01217 Dresden, Germany)

  • Ina Neumann

    (Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development, 01217 Dresden, Germany)

  • Karsten Grunewald

    (Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development, 01217 Dresden, Germany)

  • Patrycia Brzoska

    (Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development, 01217 Dresden, Germany)

  • Jiři Louda

    (Institute for Economic and Environmental Policy, Faculty of Social and Economic Studies, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, 400 96 Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic)

  • Birgit Kochan

    (Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development, 01217 Dresden, Germany)

  • Jan Macháč

    (Institute for Economic and Environmental Policy, Faculty of Social and Economic Studies, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, 400 96 Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic)

  • Lenka Dubová

    (Institute for Economic and Environmental Policy, Faculty of Social and Economic Studies, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, 400 96 Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic)

  • Petr Meyer

    (Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, 400 96 Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic)

  • Jan Brabec

    (Institute for Economic and Environmental Policy, Faculty of Social and Economic Studies, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, 400 96 Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
    Department of Social and Cultural Ecology, Faculty of Humanities, Charles University, 116 36 Prague 1, Czech Republic)

  • Olaf Bastian

    (Department of Environment and Municipal Utilities, State Capital of Dresden, 01001 Dresden, Germany)

Abstract

The quality of life in our cities critically depends on the intelligent planning and shaping of urban living space, in particular urban nature. By providing a wide range of ecosystem services (ES), urban nature essentially contributes to the well-being of city dwellers and plays a major role in avoiding common diseases through its positive impact on physical and mental health. Health is one of the most important factors underlying human welfare and is, thus, vital to sustainable development. The ES of urban green space provide other social-cultural functions alongside public health, for example by fostering environmental justice and citizenship participation. Thus, they should always be considered when searching for solutions to urban problems. The aim of this research was to determine the impact of green areas in three selected cities on the health and well-being of people by self-reporting of green areas’ visitors. To this end, we posed the research question: which types and characteristics of urban green space are most appreciated by city dwellers? Based on our findings, we have drawn up recommendations for practices to promote better living conditions. We have also pinpointed obstacles to and opportunities for leisure time activities as well as ways of supporting the public health of citizens.

Suggested Citation

  • Ralf-Uwe Syrbe & Ina Neumann & Karsten Grunewald & Patrycia Brzoska & Jiři Louda & Birgit Kochan & Jan Macháč & Lenka Dubová & Petr Meyer & Jan Brabec & Olaf Bastian, 2021. "The Value of Urban Nature in Terms of Providing Ecosystem Services Related to Health and Well-Being: An Empirical Comparative Pilot Study of Cities in Germany and the Czech Republic," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-26, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:10:y:2021:i:4:p:341-:d:525350
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Christian Krekel & Jens Kolbe & Henry Wüstemann, 2015. "The Greener, the Happier? The Effects of Urban Green and Abandoned Areas on Residential Well-Being," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 728, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
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    5. Venter, Zander & Barton, David & gundersen, vegard & Figari, Helene & Nowell, Megan, 2020. "Urban nature in a time of crisis: recreational use of green space increases during the COVID-19 outbreak in Oslo, Norway," SocArXiv kbdum, Center for Open Science.
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    Cited by:

    1. Brzoska, P. & Grunewald, K. & Bastian, O., 2021. "A multi-criteria analytical method to assess ecosystem services at urban site level, exemplified by two German city districts," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    2. Qing Li & Kaili Peng & Peng Cheng, 2021. "Community-Level Urban Green Space Equity Evaluation Based on Spatial Design Network Analysis (sDNA): A Case Study of Central Wuhan, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-18, September.
    3. Wei Gao & Gengyu Chen & Fanying Jiang & Jiake Shen & Yuncai Wang, 2021. "To Act or Not to Act: Are Natural Landscapes a Key Force in the Resilience of Historic Urban Landscapes?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-33, September.
    4. Aleksandra Lis & Karolina Zalewska & Marek Grabowski & Magdalena Zienowicz, 2025. "Signs of Children’s Presence in Two Types of Landscape: Residential and Park: Research on Adults’ Sense of Safety and Preference: Premises for Designing Sustainable Urban Environments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-26, May.
    5. Xiangyu Fu & Yajing Liu, 2024. "Ecological Vulnerability Assessment and Spatiotemporal Characteristics Analysis of Urban Green-Space Systems in Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-25, March.
    6. Argyro Anna Kanelli & Margarita Kokkinaki & Marios-Dimitrios Sinvare & Chrisovalantis Malesios & Panayiotis G. Dimitrakopoulos & Olga-Ioanna Kalantzi, 2023. "Keep Calm and Go Out: Urban Nature Exposure, Mental Health, and Perceived Value during the COVID-19 Lockdown," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-20, May.
    7. Małgorzata Dudzińska & Agnieszka Dawidowicz & Marta Gross, 2023. "How Does Blue Infrastructure Affect the Attractiveness Rating of Residential Areas? Case Study of Olsztyn City, Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-32, December.
    8. Haochen Qian & Fan Zhang & Bing Qiu, 2023. "Deciphering the Evolution, Frontier, and Knowledge Clustering in Sustainable City Planning: A 60-Year Interdisciplinary Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-27, December.
    9. Juntti, Meri & Ozsezer-Kurnuc, Sevda, 2023. "Factors influencing the realisation of the social impact of urban nature in inner-city environments: A systematic review of complex evidence," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 211(C).
    10. Lu Yang & Yong-Zhan Zheng & Hsiao-Hsien Lin & I-Shen Chen & Kuan-Yu Chen & Qi-Yuan Li & I-En Tsai, 2023. "Under the Risk of COVID-19 Epidemic: A Study on the Influence of Life Attitudes, Leisure Sports Values, and Workplace Risk Perceptions on Urban Development and Public Well-Being," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-22, May.
    11. Małgorzata Sztubecka & Alicja Maciejko & Marta Skiba, 2022. "The Landscape of the Spa Parks Creation through Components Influencing Environmental Perception Using Multi-Criteria Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-17, May.
    12. Huimin Gan & Ji Feng & Shuo Lei & Shaohua Wu & Yali Wen, 2025. "Changing Trends in Utilization Preference of Urban Green Space and Heterogeneous Effects on Ecological Well-Being Pre- and Post-Pandemic in Beijing," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-16, May.

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