- Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland (ag.nowak@uj.edu.pl)
Green spaces offer a variety of cultural ecosystem services that enhance the well-being of visitors. However, the specific landscape features that influence the provision of specific benefits are not yet fully understood. Factors such as the location of green spaces (e.g., mountain/rural, peri-urban, urban), the composition and configuration of landscape elements, and their seasonality likely play a significant role. Furthermore, challenges such as climate change, land use changes, pollution, and over-tourism may reduce the ability of these areas to provide cultural ecosystem services.
This study aimed to explore which landscape and spatial features enhance or hinder the provision of cultural ecosystem services. We conducted 35 semi-structured interviews with visitors to six green spaces located across a rural-urban gradient: two mountain areas in the Carpathians, two peri-urban spaces near Kraków, Poland, and two urban green spaces in Kraków.
Our findings reveal that visitors reported experiencing cultural ecosystem service benefits in all green spaces, though the intensity of these benefits varied by location. Landscape features had different impacts depending on the type of benefit. For some benefits, such as relaxation, greenery in general was the key element, while for others, such as strengthening social bonds, infrastructure features were more important. In addition, seasonality was crucial for certain benefits, such as educational or aesthetic values. Personal factors also played a crucial role in the perception of some benefits like social bonds, spirituality, or education.
By understanding the role of landscape features in enhancing cultural ecosystem services, we can develop land management strategies that prioritize human well-being while preserving other crucial services of green spaces, particularly regulatory ones, in the context of climate change and other global challenges.
The study was supported by the National Science Centre, Poland (OPUS-21; grant no. 2021/41/B/HS4/00648).
How to cite: Nowak-Olejnik, A., Hibner, J., Hałys, J., and Rechciński, M.: The Role of Landscape Features in Enhancing Cultural Ecosystem Services, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-1444, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-1444, 2025.
