Residents' perceptions of the role and management of green spaces to provide cultural ecosystem services in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract

Ongoing rapid urbanization and socio-environmental changes are posing challenges to proper urban management. Cultural ecosystem services (CES) offered by urban green spaces play a crucial role in the well-being of urban residents through ecosystems' non-material benefits. However, these services, especially from the residents' perspective, are often neglected in urban management strategies because of their intangible nature, particularly in the Global South. In this study, conducted in Dhaka, Bangladesh, we investigated residents' perceptions of the importance of CES offered by green spaces and how green space should be managed. As a methodological tool, we used a questionnaire-based stated preference method where non-monetary statements were the basis. Questions in the survey included respondents' social background and visiting frequency to green space, perceived importance of CES and green space, and perceptions about the management of green space. We analyzed 405 questionnaires using descriptive and inferential statistics. Our results indicate that rooftop gardens and green parks are considered the most important areas that provide CES, and among different types of CES (i.e., recreation, aesthetic, mental satisfaction, social relations), recreation is considered the most important. The high importance respondents place on the CES categories of aesthetics, sense of place, and social cohesion was also revealed. CES categories tended to be positively linked with each other. The valuation of CES was diverse depending on gender, income, educational background, and visiting frequency. Respondents prioritized government and community roles over the role of individuals and international and national non-government organizations in managing CES. Collaboration between individual and organizations was deemed a high priority. Our results highlight that a better understanding of CES and how different people perceive their benefits can be used to foster public participation and increase support for green space management initiatives.

Challenges to understanding and managing cultural ecosystem services in the global South

“…Sense of place contributes to comprehensive wellbeing in several articles; it is composed of cognitive and affective elements as well as physical and social ones, as Selfa et al (2021) show for the working landscapes of Argentina. Sense of place is a clear CES benefit, even in urban areas where multiple diverse communities mingle, as Sultana and Selim (2021) point out. In India, the concept of "lifeworlds" is used by Paul and Jones (2021) to highlight the multiple definitions and specificities that emerge out of human-nature interactions between the Yanadis and the arid landscapes they inhabit.…”

“…Notions of culture and knowledge as being adaptive can help to address questions of how to deal with CES that are being diminished by climate and other environmental changes, as noted in the case of Moorea (Hunter and Lauer 2021) and in southwest China (He and Guo 2021). In Dhaka, Bangladesh, improved understanding of the myriad CES obtained by different communities could be used as a basis to advocate for more public participation and increased political support for urban green spaces (Sultana and Selim 2021).…”

“…In urban Dhaka, local officials have mainly advocated for densification and infrastructure development where local people have not been involved in the conception, planning, or implementation. As an alternate approach, understanding how CES values shape the perceived importance of and preferences for urban green space and its management could improve both urban ecosystem benefits as well as increase participation of local residents (Sultana and Selim 2021). Further, where CES are not given attention by authorities, outcomes can include alienation of communities from nearby landscapes that have provided both material resources and spiritual, cultural, and social capital, as has happened to the Yanadi community in southern India (Paul and Jones 2021) and Maasai ranches around Amboseli National Park in Kenya (Unks et al 2021).…”

Place-Based Bias in Environmental Scholarship Derived from Social–Ecological Landscapes of Fear

“… 2021 ). Beyond the recognition of the multiple and subversive narratives, it is important that researchers go the extra step to learn the perspectives of those living on or near their study sites (Sultana and Selim 2021 ). Environmental scholars must put in real effort to join the communities in which they work to achieve holistic knowledge production.…”

Urban green spaces management during the COVID‐19 pandemic: Experiences from Kraków, Poland

“…Sultana and Selim (2021) noted that decision‐makers implement solutions to environmental problems ‘top‐down’. This is why the ‘bottom‐up’ perspective of residents has to be considered in UGS management (Feltynowski, 2020; Szopinska et al, 2019).…”