Journal
URBAN FORESTRY & URBAN GREENING
Volume 13, Issue 4, Pages 704-713Publisher
ELSEVIER GMBH
DOI: 10.1016/j.ufug.2014.07.002
Keywords
Connectivity; Educational services; Multifunctionality; School green area; Urban green infrastructure
Categories
Funding
- Romanian National Authority for Scientific Research, CNCS UEFISCDI [PN-II-RU-TE-2011-3-0285]
- Project Doctoral and Post-doctoral programs of excellence for highly qualified human resources training for research in the field of Life sciences, Environment and Earth Science - European Social Found [POSDRU/159/1.5/S/133391]
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Urban green infrastructure supports resilience in cities and promotes sustainable resource management. Small green areas, including school green areas (SGAs), are an important component of urban green infrastructure, playing a key role in supplying cities with educational services. This article describes how SGAs can amplify an urban green area's connectivity and multifunctionality. The analysis was performed in Bucharest as a case study. A survey based on questionnaires was used to obtain data regarding green spaces within public schools. A total of 411 administrators from 461 public schools participated in the survey for a response rate of 89.1%. Information from the questionnaires was augmented with spatial data of SGAs and public green spaces, i.e., parks and city gardens. Using parametric and nonparametric statistical analysis, we first identified the variables that determine an SGA's presence and size. Potential connectivity assessment results showed that most of the schools that lack or have small-sized SGAs have the possibility to cover their green space deficit by developing activities within nearby public green spaces. A structural connectivity assessment of SGAs toward other public urban green areas revealed that SGAs are an important element of the urban environment by serving as stepping stones to species flow. The multifunctionality of the SGAs was emphasized through the educational services they provide, being involved in pupils' daily activities. The increased connectivity and multifunctionality of urban green infrastructure through small, specialized green areas, such as SGAs, is an indicator of the fact that such areas can be used to ameliorate the deficit of green space in major urban areas. (C) 2014 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.
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