engleski

Co-creation of new knowledge through exploring perception and use of cultural ecosystem services of urban green infrastructure in the city of Zagreb, Croatia

Urban green infrastructure produces and provides number of ecosystem services with cultural ecosystem services being high in perception and stated importance among people living in the cities. Since cultural ecosystem services are subjective, therefore challenging to quantify using proxies, creating knowledge about perception and use of cultural ecosystem services must include its users. PPGIS (public participation GIS) is a valuable tool which allows collecting rich array of data about the spatial distribution of diverse attributes related to cultural ecosystem services alongside additional data from non-experts to create a comprehensive overview of the topic. In the city of Zagreb, Croatia, perception of five categories of cultural ecosystem services were explored using focus group participatory mapping, namely place attachment, recreation, aesthetics, education, and cultural identity. Focus group participatory mapping gathered quantitative and qualitative data on the topic of perception and use of cultural ecosystem services in every city district in Zagreb. Spatial data was collected with placing markers designating respondent’s mentioned locations on a physical map of the respective city district. Based on 21 conducted focus groups throughout the city of Zagreb with 94 focus group participants in-depth data about perception and use of different parts of urban green infrastructure was collected. With digitizing, categorizing, and analysing collected spatial data 13 different types of urban green infrastructure were identified as provides of cultural ecosystem services in the city of Zagreb. Parks and forests were most often mentioned types of urban green infrastructure, although other types were mentioned as well. Besides, patterns in perception and use were distinguished indicating different perception and use among types thus subsequently need for addressing those differences in planning, management, and operational work. Newly created knowledge about perception and use of cultural ecosystem services in cooperation with users of those services can help informing and enhancing planning and management of tree-based urban green infrastructure in cities. Even though conducting focus groups with participatory mapping is lengthy process, collected data could be beneficial and added to the existing knowledge base to enhance urban green infrastructure in a way that keeps providing ecosystem services and being beneficial to citizens’ well-being.

cultural ecosystem services ; urban green infrastructure ; participatory mapping ; Zagreb

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