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Evaluating Dual Ecological and Well-Being Benefits from an Urban Restoration Project

Author

Listed:
  • Siân de Bell

    (Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, Wentworth Way, York YO10 5NG, UK)

  • Hilary Graham

    (Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK)

  • Piran C. L. White

    (Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, Wentworth Way, York YO10 5NG, UK)

Abstract

The degradation of urban natural spaces reduces their ability to benefit human populations. Restoration can support urban sustainability by improving both the ecological health of these spaces and the public benefits they provide, but studies rarely combine both perspectives. We assessed the ecological and social benefits of an urban river restoration project relative to an unrestored river on the basis of the following four principles: Increasing ecological integrity; benefitting and engaging society; taking account of the past and future; and sustainability. Ecological health at each site was assessed by analyzing macroinvertebrate samples. The social benefits were measured by conducting focus groups with local users of green spaces surrounding the two rivers and comparing their responses. Restoration increased the ecological health of the river and was viewed positively by users, enhancing the river as a space to visit for psychological benefits. However, there were concerns over the erasure of the cultural heritage of the area. Our findings indicate that the long-term sustainability of restoration projects, particularly in urban areas, can be enhanced by integrating ecological and social dimensions. Although short-term ecological improvements may be small, they have the potential to provide a range of benefits for human populations.

Suggested Citation

  • Siân de Bell & Hilary Graham & Piran C. L. White, 2020. "Evaluating Dual Ecological and Well-Being Benefits from an Urban Restoration Project," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-28, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:2:p:695-:d:310106
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Richardson, Elizabeth A. & Mitchell, Richard, 2010. "Gender differences in relationships between urban green space and health in the United Kingdom," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 71(3), pages 568-575, August.
    2. Maraja Riechers & Micha Strack & Jan Barkmann & Teja Tscharntke, 2019. "Cultural Ecosystem Services Provided by Urban Green Change along an Urban-Periurban Gradient," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-10, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Rocío Santo-Tomás Muro & Carlota Sáenz de Tejada Granados & Eva J. Rodríguez Romero, 2020. "Green Infrastructures in the Peri-Urban Landscape: Exploring Local Perception of Well-Being through ‘Go-Alongs’ and ‘Semi-Structured Interviews’," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-26, August.
    2. Aline Pires Veról & Ianic Bigate Lourenço & João Paulo Rebechi Fraga & Bruna Peres Battemarco & Mylenna Linares Merlo & Paulo Canedo de Magalhães & Marcelo Gomes Miguez, 2020. "River Restoration Integrated with Sustainable Urban Water Management for Resilient Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-36, June.

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