Mapping the use of urban green space with regards to ecosystem resilience

• Main Author: Katrín Svana Eyþórsdóttir 1979-
• Other Authors: Háskóli Íslands
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: Umhverfis- og auðlindafræði; Vistkerfi; Lífsgæði; Reykjavík; Svæði; Borga; Græn; Iceland
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1946/21598

Urban green spaces provide habitats for biological diversity and boost inhabitants’ health with varied cultural services. They awaken awareness and understanding of the importance of nature conservation and ecosystem resilience, vital to adaptation strategies for climate change. The City of Reykjavík, Iceland has undertaken an adaptation project by becoming a member of the Mayors Adapt Initiative for collaboration and focus on long term context of the impact of local actions. The overall goal of the present study was to increase the understanding of cultural value of ecosystems to urban well-being, aiming to generate information to augment existing databases on urban planning and management for Reykjavík City. The study explored how the knowledge generated could expound the socio-ecological functions of urban spaces, strengthening urban resilience and help comply with the Mayors Adapt Initiative. The study used Elliðaárdalur Valley as a case study to examine cultural ecosystem services through surveys on public wintertime use, identifying indicators of use, flora, fauna, and weather. The site was divided into three survey, where 80 surveys were conducted during daylight hours in December 2014 and January 2015. Significant differences were found between types of activities in the three areas (p < 0,05). Most popular was walking along a circular route in the more vegetated Areas 1 and 2. Area 3 proved popular for dog-walking and the entire study site was used significantly more during weekends. These results reveal links between the site’s ecological and social functions, helping to identify and raise awareness of the benefits of urban green space use during the wintertime. Additionally, the baseline information generated from the study is useful in future planning and policy decisions for incorporating urban green space into adaptation strategies, supporting both human activities and ecosystem services. Græn svæði borga eru vettvangur líffræðilegrar fjölbreytni og bæta jafnframt lýðheilsu með margvíslegum ...