Are trees and shrubs unsafe hiding places? Impact of plant forms on the perception of danger in urban green spaces in crime hot spots

Urban parks and forests are important for wellbeing, but feelings of unsafety limited their usage. Removal of vegetation from hotspots of fear is sometimes recommended as a means of boosting safety. However such actions should be approached with caution. One explanation, based on prospect-refuge theory, is that plants increase perceptions of danger because of their contribution to a setting’s effectiveness in concealing criminals. It is also believed that people do not like urban green spaces parks containing trees and shrubs that can act as hiding places because of the sense of danger that this vegetation evokes. To test this explanation, participants rated 57 photos of urban parks and forest parks settings park settings on perceived danger, effectiveness of concealment, and landscape preference. In addition, the effectiveness of concealment in the photos was measured assuming that the value of this variable is expressed by the percentage of the pixels occupied by trees and shrubs offering concealment in a photograph. Results confirmed that concealment and danger are highly correlated mediation analysis confirmed that the impact of concealment on preferences can be explained by perceived danger. When the danger was controlled, the efficiency of concealment had no influence on preferences.

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The impact of urban green spaces on the probability of urban crime in Indonesia

Development Studies Research ◽

10.1080/21665095.2021.1950019 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 161-169

Author(s):

Ni Made Sukartini ◽

Ilmiawan Auwalin ◽

Rumayya Rumayya

Keyword(s):

Urban Crime ◽

Green Spaces ◽

Urban Green ◽

Urban Green Spaces ◽

The Impact

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Effect of Urban Pollutants on Physiological and Biochemical Parameters of Leaves of Hardwood Trees and Shrubs in Urban Green Spaces

Asian Journal of Water Environment and Pollution ◽

10.3233/ajw210012 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 91-98

Author(s):

Sara Ghafari ◽

Behzad Kaviani ◽

Shahram Sedaghathoor ◽

Mohammad Sadegh Allahyari

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Electrolyte Leakage ◽

Urban Air Pollution ◽

Biological Indicators ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Green Spaces ◽

Urban Green Spaces ◽

Hardwood Trees ◽

The Impact ◽

Trees And Shrubs

Trees and shrubs of green spaces can tolerate some physiological parameters. They can adapt to climatic conditions, hence, reduce air pollution and can be used as biological indicators in various researches. The present study aimed to explore the impact of urban air pollution on some parameters such as fresh, dry and turgor weight, amounts of chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments, and electrolyte leakage of 18 ornamental tree and shrub species in marginal and downtown parks of Rasht, Iran. The results revealed significant differences in turgor weight, photosynthetic pigments, and chlorophyll a/b ratio, but insignificant differences in electrolyte leakage between the marginal and downtown sites. The results indicated that all quantitative variables of the leaves differed significantly (p ≤ 0.01) among the species, except for fresh weight.

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The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the importance of urban green spaces to the public

Land Use Policy ◽

10.1016/j.landusepol.2021.105925 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 105925

Author(s):

Tomasz Noszczyk ◽

Julia Gorzelany ◽

Anita Kukulska-Kozieł ◽

Józef Hernik

Keyword(s):

Green Spaces ◽

Urban Green ◽

Urban Green Spaces ◽

The Public ◽

The Impact

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Allergenic fungal spores in the air of urban parks

Aerobiologia ◽

10.1007/s10453-020-09671-7 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Idalia Kasprzyk ◽

Agnieszka Grinn-Gofroń ◽

Agata Ćwik ◽

Katarzyna Kluska ◽

Paloma Cariñanos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fungal Spores ◽

Urban Parks ◽

Volumetric Method ◽

Green Spaces ◽

Seasonal Occurrence ◽

Aerobiological Monitoring ◽

Urban Green ◽

Urban Green Spaces ◽

Airborne Fungal Spores ◽

Burkard Sampler

Abstract Urban green spaces, especially urban parks, are essential for the proper functioning of cities, but they can be a serious source of airborne fungal spores. Aerobiological monitoring was carried out in urban parks of different typology to estimate the risk associated with fungal spores for citizens. Volumetric method was applied with the use of portable Burkard Sampler. In the air of the studied parks, the most dominant spores are strong allergenic or considered as potentially allergenic. Cladosporium spores were found in enormous concentrations in all studied parks, and it affected the low biodiversity of fungal spores in the parks. Compared to Cladosporium, concentrations of Alternaria spores in the air were several dozen times lower, but still a risk for people who are allergic. The fungal spores spectra and their seasonal occurrence in each park were similar. The highest similarities in the patterns of the season were found in the case of Cladosporium, Alternaria, Epicoccum, and the lowest in the case of Torula and Drechslera type. Due to the fact that allergy sufferers are most often polysensitized, the period when they should limit long visits in the urban parks is July–August, when the concentration of allergenic fungal spores of many taxa is the highest.

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“I Would Never Come Here Because I’ve Got My Own Garden”: Older Adults’ Perceptions of Small Urban Green Spaces

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16111994 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (11) ◽

pp. 1994 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Vanessa G. Macintyre ◽

Sarah Cotterill ◽

Jamie Anderson ◽

Chris Phillipson ◽

Jack S. Benton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Urban Environments ◽

Green Spaces ◽

Photo Elicitation ◽

Urban Green ◽

Urban Green Spaces ◽

Health And Wellbeing ◽

The Impact ◽

Improve Health

Green spaces are known to improve health and wellbeing via several mechanisms, such as by reducing stress and facilitating physical activity. However, little is known about the impact of the smaller green spaces typically found in urban environments on wellbeing, especially for older adults. This study investigated experiences in adults (5 males and 10 females) aged 60 years and over of small urban green spaces in a large UK city. Fifteen older adults were interviewed using semi-structured walk-along interviews and photo elicitation methods in Old Moat, Greater Manchester. Twelve of the participants lived in Old Moat at the time of the study, and the remaining three participants previously lived in Old Moat and were frequent visitors. Transcribed interviews were analyzed using Thematic Analysis. Smaller urban green spaces were perceived differently to large green spaces, and participants were more likely to use larger green spaces such as parks. The smaller green spaces were perceived as belonging to other people, which discouraged the older adults from using them. The older adults also emphasized the importance of taking care of small urban green spaces and preventing them from becoming overgrown. Urban planners should consider these factors, since they indicate that the size and type of urban green spaces may influence whether they improve health and wellbeing. Further research should investigate in more detail which types of urban green space are most conducive to facilitating physical activity and improving wellbeing.

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Estimation of the Allergenic Potential of Urban Trees and Urban Parks: Towards the Healthy Design of Urban Green Spaces of the Future

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16081357 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (8) ◽

pp. 1357 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Cariñanos ◽

Grilo ◽

Pinho ◽

Casares-Porcel ◽

Branquinho ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Urban Areas ◽

Urban Environments ◽

Urban Trees ◽

Green Spaces ◽

Urban Green ◽

Urban Green Spaces ◽

Allergenic Potential ◽

Causative Agents ◽

The Impact ◽

Ornamental Species

The impact of allergens emitted by urban green spaces on health is one of the main disservices of ecosystems. The objective of this work is to establish the potential allergenic value of some tree species in urban environments, so that the allergenicity of green spaces can be estimated through application of the Index of Urban Green Zones Allergenicity (IUGZA). Multiple types of green spaces in Mediterranean cities were selected for the estimation of IUGZ. The results show that some of the ornamental species native to the Mediterranean are among the main causative agents of allergy in the population; in particular, Oleaceae, Cupressaceae, Fagaceae, and Platanus hispanica. Variables of the strongest impact on IUGZA were the bioclimatic characteristics of the territory and design aspects, such as the density of trees and the number of species. We concluded that the methodology to assess the allergenicity associated with urban trees and urban areas presented in this work opens new perspectives in the design and planning of urban green spaces, pointing out the need to consider the potential allergenicity of a species when selecting plant material to be used in cities. Only then can urban green areas be inclusive spaces, in terms of public health.

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State of woody vegetation in an urbanized environment (the example of Krasnoyarsk)

IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science ◽

10.1088/1755-1315/875/1/012080 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 875 (1) ◽

pp. 012080

Author(s):

E Lisotova ◽

L Suntsova ◽

E Inshakov

Keyword(s):

Urban Areas ◽

Woody Plants ◽

Research Effort ◽

Green Spaces ◽

Urban Green ◽

Urban Green Spaces ◽

Vital State ◽

The Impact ◽

First Time ◽

Selection Of

Abstract Woody plants are one of the effective ways of stabilising the ecological environment of large industrial cities. In order to maximize the effect of green spaces a large and diverse research effort is needed to study the urban green spaces, assess their ecological plasticity and adaptive potential. The results of such research will be the basis for recommendations on the selection of an assortment of species for landscaping of urban areas. The aim of the study was to investigate the condition of woody plants growing in the urban environment of Krasnoyarsk. Within the framework of the study a comprehensive assessment of existing urban green spaces was carried out for the first time for Krasnoyarsk. The species composition and age structure of plantings are established by the results of inventory of public plantings. The vital state of dominant species has been evaluated and their ecological and physiological characteristics, including the study of water retaining capacity of leaves, has been carried out. That allowed to estimate the impact of anthropogenic environment on the condition of urban woody plants.

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Water and Energy Efficiency Assessment in Urban Green Spaces

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14175490 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (17) ◽

pp. 5490

Author(s):

Laura Monteiro ◽

Raquel Cristina ◽

Dídia Covas

Keyword(s):

Energy Efficiency ◽

Irrigation System ◽

Green Spaces ◽

Water Supply Systems ◽

Water Losses ◽

Urban Green ◽

Urban Green Spaces ◽

Efficiency Measures ◽

Water Scarce ◽

The Impact

Urban green spaces can be intensive water and energy consumers in the cities, particularly in water scarce regions. Though a very efficient use of such resources is necessary, tools for assessing both water and energy consumption and efficiency are not available. In this paper, a new methodology based on water and energy balances is developed for assessing the water-use and energy efficiency in urban green spaces. The proposed balances, adapted from those developed for water supply systems, are specifically tailored for accounting for urban green spaces specificities, namely, landscape water requirements, other uses besides irrigation and over irrigation water losses. The methodology is demonstrated in two case studies of different nature and characteristics: a modern garden with a smart irrigation system and an urban park with traditional irrigation system. The results show that the developed water balances allow to estimate and assess the irrigation efficiency over the years and to assess the effectiveness of implemented water saving measures. The application of the water–energy balance demonstrates the impact of water efficiency measures on the energy efficiency of the irrigation systems. The proposed methodology can be used to assess water and water–energy efficiency in urban green spaces and to identify the most adequate improvement measures, contributing for a better management of the two resources in the cities.

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INFLUENCING FACTORS ON PERFORMANCE OF SOCIAL BEHAVIOR SETTINGS AT PARKS AND GREEN SPACES OF TABRIZ

Journal of Urban and Regional Analysis ◽

10.37043/jura.2018.10.2.4 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Ali Majnouni TOUTAKHANE

Keyword(s):

Social Behavior ◽

Influencing Factors ◽

Urban Parks ◽

Green Spaces ◽

Test Results ◽

Analysis Model ◽

Factor Analysis Model ◽

Urban Green ◽

Urban Green Spaces ◽

Behavior Setting

Parks and green spaces are significant areas that are necessary to reduce citizens’ mental and moral pressures more than ever. So, as for the importance of parks and urban green spaces, consideration of influencing factors on performance of these areas as citizen’s social behavior setting is basically significant. This research seeks to answer the question of how citizens’ behaviors are distinctly the same in terms of gender, age and social and economic characteristics in urban parks. The population of this research is represented by those who go to the parks and green spaces of Tabriz metropolis. The Cochran’s formula was used to select a sample of 400 subjects who were specified by a simple random method. The reliability of the questionnaire was calculated at 0.902 using the Cronbach’s alpha formula while the research data was analyzed via the descriptive-inferential approach. The implementation of factor analysis model reduced the 62 variables of citizens’ social behavior to 23 variables and 4 factors. In considering the effects on citizen’s behavior in parks, these factors in order of preference are: social-psychological, physical-structural, economic and environmental. These four factors can explain 85.272% of the citizen’s social behavior. The stepwise regression test results showed that all the analyzed variables, referring to the performance of citizen’s social behavioral setting in parks and urban green spaces, are positively and meaningfully correlated. The independent t-test results showed that the urban park performances as behavior setting register significant differences between men and women. In this sense, the conclusions of the paper highlight the need to consider the complex needs of the residents in the designing and execution process of urban parks and green spaces.

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