BIBLIOS

Document type
Journal articles

Document subtype
Full paper

Title
What's biodiversity got to do with it? Perceptions of biodiversity and restorativeness in urban parks

Participants in the publication
Paula Gonçalves (Author)
cE3c/FCUL
cE3c
Filipa Grilo (Author)
cE3c/FCUL
cE3c
Raquel C. Mendes (Author)
cE3c/FCUL
cE3c
Kati Vierikko (Author)
Suomen ympäristökeskus - Finnish Environment Institute
Birgit Elands (Author)
Wageningen University & Research
Tiago A. Marques (Author)
FACULDADE DE CIÊNCIAS DA UNIVERSIDADE DE LISBOA
Dep. Biologia Animal
CEAUL
Margarida Santos-Reis (Author)
cE3c/FCUL

Summary
Understanding the mechanisms underlying the positive influence of urban biodiversity on dwellers’ well-being is critical to inform sustainable management of urban greenspaces, but studies published to date on the role of biodiversity in mental restoration have provided contradictory results. Both urban greenspace biophysical characteristics and the emotional connection with the place may play a role in mental restoration. Using urban greenspace landscape and biodiversity metrics, and on-site observations and questionnaires to assess site quality and visitors’ perceptions, we explore the influence of biodiversity (perceived and measured at different levels), urban greenspace characteristics, and visitors profiles in mental restoration. Our statistical analysis demonstrates that perception of biodiversity, along with satisfaction and connection to place, were the most important predictors of mental restoration. The proportion of broadleaf and evergreen tree species also had a positive influence on biodiversity perception and mental restoration. People perceive existing biodiversity through visual cues as the diversity of leaf forms in broadleaf species, with this process being almost completely mediated by the perception of tree diversity. These findings have direct translation into planning and management practices by acknowledging the importance of biodiversity and, above all, specific traits, namely of evergreen broadleaf species, in promoting restorativeness of urban parks for users. Our results highlight the importance of using standard ecological methods when assessing biodiversity in urban greenspaces and their influence on human well-being.


Institution
cE3c/FCUL

Where published
Ecology and Society

Publication Identifiers
ISSN - 1708-3087

Publisher
Resilience Alliance, Inc.



Document Identifiers
DOI - https://doi.org/10.5751/es-12598-260325
URL - http://dx.doi.org/10.5751/es-12598-260325

Rankings
Web Of Science Q1 (2019) - 3.890 - ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES - SSCI

Keywords
biodiversity perception biological diversity functional diversity mediation mental well-being perceived restorativeness

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