Spatial interactions between perceived biophilic values and neighborhood typologies in urban wetlands

Abstract

AbstractWetlands provide a wide range of ecosystem services; however, little is known about their perception value or use for improving urban planning and wetland management. This study explores the perception values towards the Los Batros Wetland in Chile, by inhabitants from different neighborhood typologies. A sample of 457 responses evaluated the wetland by applying the Kellert framework of 9 biophilic values using a Public Participation Geographic Information Systems (PPGIS) approach. A spatial autocorrelation analysis with hotspot revealed that the spatial distribution of biophilic values varies by neighborhood typology. Subsequent ANOVA and T-test suggest that such distribution is affected by perceived accessibility and visitation purposes, and is influenced by socio-demographic aspects that vary among neighborhood typology. Inhabitants of the garden city typology located next to the wetland area, whose residents have higher education and income levels and who have easy and moderate access to the wetland, agreed with a diverse type of biophilic values. In the garden city, the ecologistic-scientific value has the higher spatial concentration. In the condominium typology, with similar education and income levels and accessibility, but situated far from the wetland, there was less agreement with biophilic values, and these were more dispersed, i.e. biophilic values are less representative. In this case, the aesthetic value prevails over others. At the north area of the neighborhood unit, where residents had lower education and income levels along with moderate to difficult physical access to the wetland, but they developed horticultural activities alongside the wetland, inhabitants agree with various biophilic values, highlighting its symbolic value. Conversely, biophilic values of people in the favela were not in agreement nor disagreement, regardless they have similar physical access and distance to the wetland as residents in the condominium typology, but have the lowest income and education level. Findings suggest that effective wetlands management requires appreciation of the clusters of values assigned to wetland environments, which in this case relate to neighborhood typologies. These clusters should be considered when planning to restore, protect, and improve urban wetlands.