Environmental Perception among Residents of a Polluted Watershed in Buenos Aires

Abstract

Management success of urban water bodies depends on public perceptions among other factors, because opinions and attitudes can be used to identify problems and also to evaluate the implementation of rehabilitation programs. The aim of this study was to explore the environmental perception of residents living along streams of one of the most polluted watersheds in Buenos Aires (Argentina) in view of future rehabilitation programs. During 2012 and 2013, 276 door-to-door surveys were carried out randomly and were analyzed regarding two perspectives: differences in perception with respect to (1) their position in the watershed, and (2) the distance from the watercourses where they reside. In general, residents' perceptions were highly influenced by what they saw or smelled. Although they did not value the watercourses for their wildlife or scenery and did not use them for recreation, they would like them to be improved. Three main topics were relevant: (1) the type of experience they had with the streams near their homes, (2) the recognition that riverbanks have a potential for recreation, and (3) the desire and individual commitment to improve the critical environmental condition. These results have implications for environmental management and, particularly, for the implementation of riparian rehabilitation projects.

Special Issue on Green Infrastructure for Urban Sustainability

“…People's perception and use of urban green infrastructure is the fundamental condition to bridge the knowledge gap between urbanization and its impacts on urban green infrastructure and its related urban quality of life. There are two studies in this SI with questionnaires about people's perception and use of urban green infrastructure (Johnson et al 2014; Breuste and Artmann 2014). Johnson et al (2014) explored how residents living along streams of the Matanza-Riachuelo watershed (Argentina) perceived their present condition and envisaged the potential improvement.…”

“…There are two studies in this SI with questionnaires about people's perception and use of urban green infrastructure (Johnson et al 2014; Breuste and Artmann 2014). Johnson et al (2014) explored how residents living along streams of the Matanza-Riachuelo watershed (Argentina) perceived their present condition and envisaged the potential improvement. Their findings showed that residents' perceptions were generally determined by what they saw or smelled.…”

Changes in Environmental Awareness and Its Connection to Local Environmental Management in Water Conservation Zones: The Case of Beijing, China

“…However, residents had no idea of the water quality monitoring results [33,34]. On this note, the National Public Environmental Awareness Report in 2007 showed that respondents had a heightened environmental perception, but low correctness ratios.…”

“…However, in recent years, most males choose to seek employment in big cities, while females stayed in the village and bore more responsibilities for the family, including ensuring food safety and family health [50]. Therefore, women are more concerned about environmental quality, report stronger environmental attitudes, and exhibit higher levels of behavioral adjustments compared with men [34,51].…”

Integrated approach to the understanding of the degradation of an urban river: local perceptions, environmental parameters and geoprocessing

“…During the early years of the community, the residents had positive feelings toward the river, which they used for domestic supplies, drinking water, fishing, and recreational activities, whereas at the present time, the river has a negative image, being considered unpleasant and useless. The negative modifications of the river are related primarily to the color and odor of the water, as observed by Johnson et al [42] in an urban river basin, where the changes in the quality of the aquatic ecosystem were perceived by local residents primarily through their visual or olfactory perceptions. Additional changes perceived by the local population in this study were in the sediment and fish population.…”