Distribution of urban green spaces: Comparative analysis between cities in different countries

Abstract

The presence of urban green spaces (UGS) increases the human’s contact with nature and provides numerous benefits to the society and the local environment. In this way, analyzing, planning and stimulating the implementation of UGS in cities is a fundamental action to improve the life quality of urban society. In this context, the aim was to analyze the situation and distribution of the green spaces of the universities cities of Lavras, Minas Gerais State (Brazil) and Newark, Delaware (USA). For data collection, researches performed field visits and used aerial photography to survey and analysis before calculating indicators including green area index (GAI) and green space ratio (GSR). The city of Lavras has a GAI of 0.54 m2 inh-1. The GSR value was 0.29%, not meeting the minimum of 5% required by local municipal law. Furthermore, there is a bad distribution of UGSs in the urban framework. However, in Newark, the distribution of UGSs is homogeneous and covers all regions of the city. The calculated GAI was 50.2 m² inh-1 and the GSR has met the 7% minimum required by its Newark Municipal Law. When comparing the two cities, in different countries and conditions it is concluded that Newark (DE) presents UGS indicators, GAI (m² inh-1) and GSR (%), higher than the values obtained in Lavras (MG), indicating the need for Government actions to increase these values.

The Trajectory of the Landscape and Functionality of Urban Watercourses: A Study of Lavras City, Brazil

“…It is important to highlight that the first 4 cited areas have a water element in the landscape in the form of lakes, rivers, or fountains. The least mentioned ones coincide with the results found by Garcia et al (2021), consisting of squares without adequate infrastructure, without vegetation and with high impermeabilization. When walking through these places, 69.13% say they pay attention to animals and plants (Figure 12).…”

“…Lavras has a low green area index, GAI = 0.62m 2 /inhabitant (Garcia et al, 2021), considering that the minimum recommended value is 15 m 2 /inhabitant (SBAU, 1996). The city also has a low green space ratio (0.29%), and a disproportional distribution of green areas, with GAI close or equal to zero in the peripheral sectors, normally inhabited by low-income population (Garcia et al, 2021).…”

“…Lavras has a low green area index, GAI = 0.62m 2 /inhabitant (Garcia et al, 2021), considering that the minimum recommended value is 15 m 2 /inhabitant (SBAU, 1996). The city also has a low green space ratio (0.29%), and a disproportional distribution of green areas, with GAI close or equal to zero in the peripheral sectors, normally inhabited by low-income population (Garcia et al, 2021). Bolund and Hunhammar (1999) highlight how low-income settlements lack access to urban green spaces (UGS), and tend to be in undesirable and environmentally problematic areas (Simon, 2010;Meirelles Filho and Miranda, 2016).…”

“…Lavras is an example of a municipality that has land use and occupation conflicts in its PPZs (Reis et al, 2012). The city has an Index of Green Areas below to the one recommended by the Brazilian Society for Urban Afforestation (15m 2 /inhabitant), in addition, there is not a homogeneous distribution Garcia et al, 2021).…”

Espacios Verdes Urbanos Públicos: Ciudadanos y Técnicos Municipales Bases para una Gestión Sostenible

“…Las relaciones y beneficios detectados de los EVUPs corresponden a estudios europeos y/o de América del Norte y pocos de América Latina, siendo una región poco estudiada a pesar del déficit y distribución desigual de los EVUPs en las ciudades (García et al, 2021). En general, los estudios sobre América Latina muestran positivas relaciones entre las características de los EVUPs (por ejemplo, proximidad, tamaño, comodidades) con el uso y los beneficios esperados por los usuarios (Mena et al, 2015;Scopelliti et al, 2016;Salvo et al, 2017).…”