). Environmental [in]equity: Accessibility to green spaces in rapidly urbanizing mountain-cities

ROSSI, S. D; OTERO, A., ; ABRAHAM, ELENA;; BYRNE, J. A.

Human-nature interactions. Exploring nature?s values across landscapes.

Springer Nature

Año: 2022; p. 113 - 126

Significance Statement Open Green Spaces (OGS) provide a range of culturalecosystems services including health benefits through recreational and tourismopportunities. Rapid and oftentimes unplanned urbanization can result in the lossof OGS, negatively affecting urban dwellers’ health and wellbeing. An example isthe rapidly expanding city of San Carlos de Bariloche, located in the ArgentineanPatagonia, surrounded by the iconic Nahuel Huapi National Park. The study reportedhere sought to assess the availability and distribution equity of public OGS inBariloche. The study found inequalities in access and distribution; ‘wealthier’neighbourhoods offered more OGS than poorer neighbourhoods. Better regulationof development is required and future land use plans need to preserve and protectfuture OGS sites and improve access points to existing OGS to ensure moreequitable access to diverse natural landscapes.