Urban nature as a source of resilience during social distancing amidst the coronavirus pandemic

Abstract

The 2020 coronavirus pandemic caused countries across the world to implement measures of social distancing to curb spreading of COVID-19. The large and sudden disruptions to everyday life that result from this are likely to impact well-being, particularly among urban populations that live in dense settings with limited public space. In this paper, we argue that during these extraordinary circumstances, urban nature offers resilience for maintaining well-being in urban populations, while enabling social distancing. We discuss more generally the critical role of urban nature in times of crisis. Cities around the world need to take the step into the 21st century by accepting crises as a new reality and finding ways to function during these disturbances. Thus, maintaining or increasing space for nature in cities and keeping it accessible to the public should be part of the sustainability agenda, aiming simultaneously to strive towards SDG 3 (good health and well-being), and SDG 11 (sustainable and resilient cities).

The Impact of COVID-19 on Public Space: A Review of the Emerging Questions

“…For green spaces specifically, the pandemic might force us to revisit our existing green space typologies , with local neighbourhood parks, pocket parks, avenues, and informal green spaces getting greater focus (Rupprecht and Byrne, 2014), as larger parks may take on a different function and use. During the pandemic the role of some green spaces clearly changed (Samuelsson et al, 2020). This also implies that typologies should not only focus on the level of the individual green/public space.…”

<strong><b>Parks are Critical Urban Infrastructure: Perception and Use of Urban Green Spaces in NYC During COVID-19</b></strong>

“…In a study led by the NYC Parks and USDA Forest Service, researchers found through a Citywide Social Assessment that parks are a critical social space, and visitation correlates with park size, facilities and ability to participate in recreational activities and engagement with the local environment (Auyeung et al 2016). Others point to urban green spaces as a way to relieve the chronic stress of cramped spaces and housing, with perceived importance directly related to community quality and cohesion (Lo and Kim, 2012;Samuelsson et al 2020). These benefits may be particularly salient for cities like New York, which was hard-hit by COVID-19 during the onset of the pandemic in the US.…”

“…Although research is still emerging on urban green space use during the pandemic, a number of media reports and some studies have supported anecdotal evidence of increased park visitation as well as a shift in their perceived importance during COVID-19 (Fisher and Grima 2020;Venter et al 2020;Samuelsson et al 2020;Goldstein & Kilgannon, 2020;Melendez 2020). However, what is less known is the shifting concerns residents have about urban green spaces, how they are being utilized differently, the change in perceived access, and what features have been identified as particularly desirable or useful across different social groups and demographics.…”

Innovation in the ‘New Normal’ Interactions, the Urban Space, and the Low Touch Economy: The Case of Rio de Janeiro in the Context of the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Social relationships may be maintained even in the context of social distancing, especially during psychological hardships, and contact with nature can also provide urban residents with a sense of coherence and biophilic connections, which help people to deal with stressors and stay physically healthy. The city resilience may be extremely important when the COVID-19 social distancing orders are gradually liberalized, which shows that cities need to accept new crises regimes as a new reality and find ways to function during them (Samuelsson et al, 2020).…”