Anwesha Mahanta and Parijat Borgohain
Abstract
Urban green space plays a crucial role in enhancing the residentsâ quality of life through their cultural ecosystem services in addition to their functions as ecological resources. The present study investigates the contribution of urban forests, parks and wetlands in improving a cityâs liveability and residentsâ quality of life. It evaluates how certain push-pull factors influence residentsâ visits to these spaces and their conservation efforts. The study adopted a mixed method approach, including a random sample survey with 500 residents, 10 in-depth interviews, 5 group discussions, and analytical methods: Kruskal-Wallis H test and Mann- Whitney U test to explore how these green spaces offer different services and experiences, and provides several perceived benefits towards residentsâ physical and mental well-being. The study found that residents are delighted with the well-maintained parks which contribute the most in enhancing quality of life compared to other green spaces. Easy accessibility and specific park features such as a majestic view of the mighty Brahmaputra River and activities like boating in Dighalipukhuri Park attract visitors to these green spaces. The natural landscapes (forests and wetlands) offer unique opportunities to experience nature and wildlife watching that adds to their intellectual development and spiritual enrichment. However, the natural landscapes offer limited recreational services and are facing a myriad of challenges such as encroachment, biodiversity loss and pollution. Females prefer accessible green spaces equipped with essential amenities to natural places since they are concerned about the safety and accessibility of these wild urban natural locations for them and their kids. Residents have a positive attitude towards the conservation of these green spaces. They support the development of natural landscapes as sites for sustainable tourism to attract more visitors but want conservation to be prioritised. Thus, planners can utilize these findings as they seek to design urban strategies that aim at improving residentsâ experience through maximizing cultural services and minimizing ecological damage.