Management and Perception of Metropolitan Natura 2000 Sites: A Case Study of La Mandria Park (Turin, Italy)

Abstract

The European Commission promotes management practices for nature conservation and human well-being, requiring the involvement of users in Natura 2000 sites. The research aim was to investigate the user’s aesthetic perception in relation to the adoption of different management measures, within an Italian metropolitan Natura 2000 site. The research was performed in La Mandria Park in 2018 (1780 ha). The method was based on a participatory approach (interviews, questionnaires and participatory mapping), involving both park managers and users. Four main landscape elements were identified: lawns, woodlands, lines of trees and water bodies. Questionnaires (N = 232) were analyzed by descriptive and regression analysis. Mapped preferred places were analyzed using ecological indexes on 500 m land use buffers. A gendered perception of the aesthetic quality was detected, demonstrating that women are more strictly connected to nature than men. Users involved in park activities better perceived the aesthetic quality, while regular visitors had a worst perception. From participatory mapping (N = 137), it emerges that the eight preferred places are characterized by a mixed land use with different maintenance regimes and ecological values. Users’ perceptions should be integrated in a co-management plan in metropolitan Natura 2000 sites, combining nature conservation with user enjoyment.

Perceptions of Urban Green Areas during the Social Distancing Period for COVID-19 Containment in Italy

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“…Appropriate urban planning that considers the design of public green areas can contribute to achieving this goal. Indeed, in an urban context with a growing global urban population, public parks and gardens can provide spaces for recreation, contact with nature, and satisfy different social and cultural needs [2,3]. The importance of urban green spaces for improving resilience and adaptation to new challenges (i.e., climate change, urban growth, and social inclusion) has been recognized by several authors [4][5][6].…”

The Methodology of Landscape Quality (LQ) Indicators Analysis Based on Remote Sensing Data: Polish National Parks Case Study

“…In the majority of research, this term is solely connected to the visual layer. As a result, LQ is analyzed based on the analysis of public perception and stakeholder opinion (for example in relation to cultural ecosystem services [2,3]) or by the use of methods combining social and expert point of view (mainly based on the application of GIS methods [4,5]. Taken into account a holistic way in which landscape is nowadays understood, due to the intersection of its many dimensions, a comprehensive evaluation of landscape quality should include a more extensive analysis of the structure and the relationships existing between different landscape components [5][6][7].…”

Assessment and Mapping Green Areas Ecosystem Services and Socio-Demographic Characteristics in Turin Neighborhoods (Italy)

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