Evaluation of urban nature reserves - Buenos Aires as a case study

BREUSTE & FAGGI

Bariloche

Simposio; Southern Connection; 2010

Southern Connection

Objectives: This study investigates opinions and attitudes of visitors and neighbors of 5 urban reserves located in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area for further urban nature management. Methods: The selected nature reserves have similar physiographic characteristic but with differences in some environmental and socioeconomic features. 600 people were interviewed gathered data about utilization and evaluation of the reserves, distance travelled and effort required to reach the place, perception of nature, their flora and fauna knowledge, and features from a landscape they preferred. Results: Effort required to reach the reserves varied between 20 minutes and 1 hour; the duration of the visit between 20 minutes and more than 4 hours. Visitors showed few flora (76%) and fauna (80%) knowledge, although they pointed out “nature” as the principal feature they preferred from a landscape. Many interviewed agreed in the necessity to improve infrastructure and information on nature. Results showed that profile, gender, age and education level were the main explaining variables. Conclusions: Similarities and differences between the visitors and neighbors perception are being discussed. Comparisons with results from European studies show general similarities in behavior but also differences in nature perception. This necessity is coincident with the lack of biodiversity knowledge, a fact that is controversial with the mission of urban reserves.