Working Title: "Reconciling mental health promotion and wildlife conservation in a megacity: the importance of urban parks’ qualities"

Research Countries: Brazil

Research Themes: biodiversity, human health, urban green spaces, restorative environments, urban planning, nature contributions to people

Abstract:

Cities worldwide have been seeking new alternatives for building and transforming urban areas in order to provide healthier and resilient environments for their inhabitants. The integration of green infrastructure into urban planning has gained momentum as a threefold strategy because it provides benefits to human health and well-being, preserves biodiversity, and improves environmental health. Urban parks, when well designed and managed, may act as restorative environments, which allow people to recover cognitive capacities and relax while providing habitat for local flora and fauna. However, reconciling in the same place requirements for human use and biodiversity conservation is a challenge not well investigated so far.
Bridging this gap, the aim of this study is to identify which characteristics of urban parks affect mental restoration and wildlife support outcomes, and which are the synergies and trade-offs between these two dimensions. First, a conceptual framework and a list of green space indicators will be developed through a systematic review on studies that associated mental health and wildlife support outcomes with green spaces qualities. Then, a case study in the megacity of Sao Paulo, Brazil, will operationalize the framework making use of on-site surveys with urban parks’ visitors and secondary data on biodiversity inventories. Finally, recommendations will be developed to inform the design and management of urban green spaces that may maximize human mental health and wellbeing promotion and biodiversity conservation.

Supervisor(s):

Prof. Dr. Theo Kötter (GUG)

Prof. Dr. Wiltrud Terlau (HBRS)