Unveiling the cultural ecosystem services of urban green spaces: A case study of Ljubljana, Slovenia

Aleš Smrekar; Jernej  Tiran; Katarina Polajnar Horvat

doi:10.3986/AGS.13788

Authors

Aleš Smrekar Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Anton Melik Geographical Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7448-9174
Jernej Tiran Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Anton Melik Geographical Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9839-720X
Katarina Polajnar Horvat Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Anton Melik Geographical Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8872-529X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3986/AGS.13788

Keywords:

urban green space, recreation, cultural ecosystem services, quality of life, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Abstract

This paper analyses the value of cultural ecosystem services in urban green spaces. A field survey of 900 respondents in Ljubljana, Slovenia, examined cultural ecosystem services in seven types of urban green spaces and compared the results with two types of non-green public spaces (old town, shopping mall). Differences between the types were assessed using one-way variance analysis (ANOVA). Results showed statistically significant differences between the types, with sports facilities standing out as valuable for recreation and education. The old town's cultural heritage and aesthetics were highly valued, while shopping malls ranked lowest. The study emphasises the importance of urban green spaces for quality of life of residents and informs land use planning decision-making.

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References

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