Urban Green Spaces: A Route to Ecotourism

New Delhi: Urban green spaces play a crucial role in enhancing the quality of life in cities by providing environmental, social, and economic benefits. Recently, they have emerged as significant contributors to ecotourism, offering sustainable travel experiences within urban settings. This article explores how urban green spaces, including parks, botanical gardens, and nature reserves, serve as vital ecotourism hubs. By fostering biodiversity, promoting environmental education, and encouraging outdoor activities, these green areas attract both local residents and tourists seeking nature-based experiences. Additionally, urban green spaces support ecological conservation efforts and provide a platform for sustainable tourism, thereby promoting awareness of environmental issues in urban populations. Integrating ecotourism into urban green space planning not only strengthens urban sustainability but also enhances the city’s cultural and ecological identity. This article underscores the need for strategic management and preservation of urban green spaces to ensure they continue to function as vital resources for ecotourism, fostering a connection between nature and urban dwellers while promoting sustainable tourism practices.

Introduction:

In an era where environmental sustainability is at the forefront of global discourse, urban green spaces have emerged as vital components of modern cities. It demands a deeper understanding of the social, ecological, and economic factors that contribute to sustainable urban development Urban centres not only play a significant role in driving climate change but also, they the largest sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, but they are also highly susceptible to the impacts of climate change. Urbanization primarily affects the environment by increasing temperatures (urban heat island effect)

Urban populations are facing ecologically vital threats from over urbanization. The ecological aspect of urban green spaces involves both the objective and subjective elements that support biodiversity. As cities grow rapidly, preserving, revitalizing, and expanding green spaces must involve active citizen participation across environmental, social, cultural, and economic efforts to foster sustainable development and bioeconomy in urban biodiversity. Citizens should be informed and encouraged to engage in environmental, cultural, and educational activities and contribute to the design and planning of urban green spaces. However, achieving public support and political involvement in green space development requires diverse actions. Urban green spaces are accessible to everyone, organizing activities in these areas can raise awareness and educate citizens. For instance, public events in green spaces can help inform and engage people through enjoyable and educational experiences.

Urban Green Spaces

The presence of built-up natural environments and green neighbourhoods has been linked to reduced stress and improved physical and mental health. Since the Industrial Revolution, scientific, technological, and urban development ideas have largely originated in Europe, with America taking a leading role from the 20th century onward. Urbanization has followed a complex path, evolving from industrial cities to urban hubs and eco-urbanization. In developing countries, the creation of urban green spaces—incorporating natural or near-natural areas—has enhanced the urban landscape while also addressing psychological and social needs, slowly improving people’s quality of life and mental health. Urban green spaces, which include urban forests, grasslands, parks, green roofs, gardens, urban farms, and street trees, are believed to provide essential ecosystem services and mitigate the negative effects of urbanization. There are international standards for development of urban green spaces. In developing countries like India, the standard is 20 square meters of green space per capita, which helps maintain the balance between CO2 and O2 for human well-being. Well-planned cities typically allocate 20-40% of their total geographical area to green spaces. However, Indian cities fall significantly short of these international standards.

The article comprehensively addresses and generalizes the concepts and concerns related to Urban Green Spaces (UGS) within the realm of urban planning.

Components of Urban green spaces

Urban green spaces are classified in different categories by size, spatial characteristics, geographic locations, uses, functions, Service purposes, facilities, and property.

1. Urban green spaces can be categorized by their facilities and level of naturalness into types such as urban parks, nature parks, pocket parks, district parks, community parks, neighbourhood parks, sports fields, and urban forests.
2. Urban green spaces can also be classified by the activities they support, such as cricket ovals or skateboard parks.
3. Bowling greens are another type of urban green space.
4. Urban green spaces can be managed by different agencies, including national parks, state parks, and city parks.
5. Parks can also be defined by their historical significance, such as a heritage rose garden
6. The condition of a park and its land use history can be reflected in specific types of green spaces, such as a street-corner neighbourhood park.
7. The types of users, along with landscaping and embellishments, can define urban green spaces such as dog parks, bike parks, or Chinese gardens.
8. Based on the underlying philosophy, urban green spaces can be classified as recreation reserves or civic squares.

Ecosystem Functions of Urban Green Spaces

All types of green spaces contribute to reducing heat stress, urban heat islands, air pollution and others. The density of green space, particularly tree cover, influences its effectiveness in mitigating air pollution Community green spaces are linked to lower levels of air pollution exposure at the household level. The impact of greening on heat and air pollution varies, affecting individual and household-level exposure to air pollution. However, the reductions in air pollution achieved through green spaces are relatively minor compared to emissions generated within urban areas.

People visit urban green spaces for a variety of reasons, including enjoying diverse environmental features like flowers, trees, and wildlife; appreciating fresh air and scenic views such as cascades; and engaging in educational, recreational, and social activities. These spaces offer opportunities for children to play, social interaction, meeting friends, picnicking, and finding a respite from daily life. Urban parks and gardens can also serve as venues for fostering social connections, participating in community projects, and enhancing cultural experiences. Additionally, they provide well-being-focused recreational areas and walkways that link different attractions and facilities

Economic and Social Benefits

The development of urban green spaces as ecotourism destinations offers significant economic and social benefits. Ecotourism can generate revenue for local governments and communities through entrance fees, guided tours, and related services. This revenue can be reinvested in the maintenance and enhancement of green spaces, creating a positive feedback loop that supports both conservation efforts and economic development.

Moreover, urban green spaces that cater to ecotourism can become focal points for community engagement and education. These areas provide opportunities for residents to participate in environmental stewardship programs, such as tree planting, habitat restoration, and wildlife monitoring. By involving the community in the care and management of urban green spaces, cities can foster a sense of ownership and pride among residents, leading to more sustainable urban environments.

Challenges and Opportunities

While the potential for urban green spaces to serve as ecotourism destinations is

significant, several challenges must be addressed to fully realize this potential. One of the primary challenges is the need for careful planning and management to ensure that ecotourism activities do not negatively impact the environment. This requires the implementation of sustainable practices, such as limiting visitor numbers, promoting low-impact activities, and providing education on the importance of conservation.

Additionally, the integration of urban green spaces into the broader ecotourism network requires collaboration between various stakeholders, including local governments, environmental organizations, and the tourism industry. By working together, these stakeholders can develop strategies that maximize the benefits of ecotourism while minimizing its environmental footprint.

On the other hand, there are numerous opportunities for innovation in the development of urban green spaces as ecotourism hubs. For example, cities can incorporate technology to enhance the visitor experience, such as using mobile apps to provide information on local flora and fauna or offering virtual tours for those unable to visit in person. Additionally, urban green spaces can be designed with a focus on sustainability, incorporating features such as green roofs, rain gardens, and renewable energy sources to reduce their environmental impact.

Conclusion

Urban green spaces hold immense potential as pathways to ecotourism, offering a unique blend of natural beauty, biodiversity, and accessibility within city limits. By promoting these spaces as ecotourism destinations, cities can not only enhance the quality of life for their residents but also contribute to global efforts to conserve the environment. However, realizing this potential requires careful planning, sustainable management, and collaboration among various stakeholders. With the right approach, urban green spaces can become vital components of a sustainable urban future, providing economic, social, and environmental benefits for generations to come.

Urban Green Spaces: A Routes to Ecotourism

Sachi Gupta

Assistant Professor (Horticulture), GD Goenka University, Sohna Road, Gurugram (Haryana)

S.S. Sindhu

Dean Agriculture, SGT University, Gurugram (Haryana)