Effects of urban green spaces characteristics on cultural ecosystem services and human wellbeing

• Project/Area Number: 22H00567
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 64:Environmental conservation measure and related fields
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: GASPARATOS Alexandros 東京大学, 未来ビジョン研究センター, 教授 (20726369)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): SHAMIK CHAKRABORTY 富山大学, 学術研究部社会科学系, 准教授 (00837007) ; 齊藤 修 公益財団法人地球環境戦略研究機関, その他部局等, 上席研究員 (50397668) ; Jarzebski Marcin 国際連合大学サステイナビリティ高等研究所, サステイナビリティ高等研究, 研究員 (60780765)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-04-01 – 2025-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2024)
• Budget Amount: ¥32,500,000 (Direct Cost: ¥25,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥7,500,000); Fiscal Year 2024: ¥9,100,000 (Direct Cost: ¥7,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥2,100,000); Fiscal Year 2023: ¥12,480,000 (Direct Cost: ¥9,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥2,880,000); Fiscal Year 2022: ¥10,920,000 (Direct Cost: ¥8,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥2,520,000)
• Keywords: 生態系サービス / 人間の福利 / 都市の緑地空間 / グリーンインフラ / 都市の持続可能性 / 人間の幸福

Outline of Research at the Start

都市の緑地空間は都市の持続可能性と生活の質を向上させるうえで重要である。緑地空間が与える文化的サービスや、精神的な健康を含む人間の福利に及ぼす影響を示す研究文献も増えているが、これらのサービスの供給に空間的・時間的なばらつきがある事、緑量や景観構成要素、植物の生物多様性など、緑地空間のどのような特性が人間の福利を媒介しているのかに関しては数多くの課題がある。本研究では、学際的なアプローチにより、(a)都市緑地空間の特性（緑量、生物多様性、構成など）と時期、都市住民の価値観が特定の文化的サービスの提供にどのような影響を与え(b)それらが利用者や周辺住民の福利にどう影響するのかを明らかにする。

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This research explored the multifaceted links between intangible benefits of Nature and human wellbeing, adopting a highly interdisciplinary research approach. First, a systematic literature review identified 16 individual mechanisms linking cultural ecosystem services with different constituents of human wellbeing, as well as global patterns and knowledge gaps. Second, a clustering analysis identified patterns in the characteristics of 1,400 urban green spaces in Tokyo. Third, empirical studies at nine urban green spaces around Tokyo identified the factors mediating the relationships between park use, cultural ecosystem services and human wellbeing, as well as whether and how these relationships change over the year. This required the statistical analysis of about 2000 visitor and resident surveys using participatory GIS and advanced statistical models. Results show that the relationships are multi-dimensional and significant for the wellbeing of urban residents.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

This research was the first to systematize the links between the intangible benefits of Nature and human wellbeing in a robust way. These relationships are multi-faceted, evolve, and are significant for human wellbeing, and suggest how local authorities can improve urban green spaces management.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Current perspectives on biosphere research 2024-2025: 8 findings from ecology, sociology and economics (2025)
  • Author(s): Bohn, F.J., Bastos, A., Martin, R., Rammig, A., Koh, N.S., Sioen, G.B., Buscher, B., Carver, L., DeClerck, F., Drupp, M., Fletcher, R., Forrest, M., Gasparatos, A., Godoy-Faundez, A., Hagedorn, G., Hansel, M., Hetzer, J., Hickler, T., Krug, C.B., Koot, S., Li, X., Luers, A., Matevich, S., Matthews, H.D.; et al.
  • Journal Title: Biogeosciences Volume: －
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Urban Green Infrastructure Planning in Jaipur, India: A GIS-Based Suitability Model for Semi-Arid Cities (2025)
  • Author(s): Nathawat Ritu、Gupta Saurabh Kumar、Kanga Shruti、Singh Suraj Kumar、Chakraborty Shamik、Marazi Asif、Sajan Bhartendu、Abouleish Mohamed Yehia、Meraj Gowhar、Ali Tarig、Kumar Pankaj
  • Journal Title: Sustainability Volume: 17 Issue: 6 Pages: 2420-2420
  • DOI: 10.3390/su17062420
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Systematic review of the climatic and non-climatic benefits of green roofs in urban areas (2024)
  • Author(s): Aleksejeva Jelena、Voulgaris Gerasimos、Gasparatos Alexandros
  • Journal Title: Urban Climate Volume: 58 Pages: 102133-102133
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.uclim.2024.102133
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Exploring the Factors Shaping Urban Greenspace Interactions: A Case Study of Nagpur, India (2024)
  • Author(s): Lahoti Shruti Ashish、Dhyani Shalini、Saito Osamu
  • Journal Title: Land Volume: 13 Issue: 10 Pages: 1576-1576
  • DOI: 10.3390/land13101576
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Exploring the Nexus between Green Space Availability, Connection with Nature, and Pro-Environmental Behavior in the Urban Landscape (2024)
  • Author(s): Lahoti Shruti、Dhyani Shalini、Sahle Mesfin、Kumar Pankaj、Saito Osamu
  • Journal Title: Sustainability Volume: 16 Issue: 13 Pages: 5435-5435
  • DOI: 10.3390/su16135435
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Meta-analysis indicates better climate adaptation and mitigation performance of hybrid engineering-natural coastal defence measures (2024)
  • Author(s): Huynh Lam Thi Mai、Su Jie、Wang Quanli、Stringer Lindsay C.、Switzer Adam D.、Gasparatos Alexandros
  • Journal Title: Nature Communications Volume: 15 Issue: 1 Pages: 1-16
  • DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46970-w
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Assessing the heterogeneity of public acceptability for mangrove restoration through a choice experiment (2024)
  • Author(s): Su Jie、Gasparatos Alexandros
  • Journal Title: Ecological Economics Volume: 218 Pages: 108126-108126
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2024.108126
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Systematizing ecosystem change in coastal social-ecological systems: Perspectives from a multi-stakeholder approach in Nakatsu mudflat, Japan (2023)
  • Author(s): Chakraborty Shamik、Yamamori Takumi、Su Jie、Johnson Brian Alan、Kumar Pankaj、Ashikaga Yukiko、Gasparatos Alexandros
  • Journal Title: Ocean and Coastal Management Volume: 243 Pages: 106729-106729
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2023.106729
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Perceptions about mangrove restoration and ecosystem services to inform ecosystem-based restoration in Large Xiamen Bay, China (2023)
  • Author(s): Su Jie、Gasparatos Alexandros
  • Journal Title: Landscape and Urban Planning Volume: 235 Pages: 104763-104763
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2023.104763
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Assessing the potential of strategic green roof implementation for green infrastructure: Insights from Sumida ward, Tokyo (2022)
  • Author(s): Aleksejeva Jelena、Voulgaris Gerasimos、Gasparatos Alexandros
  • Journal Title: Urban Forestry & Urban Greening Volume: 74 Pages: 127632-127632
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.ufug.2022.127632
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Linking the nonmaterial dimensions of human-nature relations and human well-being through cultural ecosystem services (2022)
  • Author(s): Huynh Lam Thi Mai、Gasparatos Alexandros、Su Jie、Dam Lam Rodolfo、Grant Ezekiel I.、Fukushi Kensuke
  • Journal Title: Science Advances Volume: 8 Issue: 31 Pages: 8042-8042
  • DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abn8042
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Perceptions about mangrove restoration and ecosystem services to inform ecosystem-based restoration in Large Xiamen Bay, China (2025)
  • Author(s): Su, J.
  • Organizer: Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences, Xiamen
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Informing Urban Green Space Selection for Cultural Ecosystem Services (CES) Research through clustering analysis (2025)
  • Author(s): Murawski, M.
  • Organizer: UTokyo-Springer Nature SDG Symposium 2025, Tokyo
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Differentiated trajectories of ecosystem-based adaptation for urban coastal defence in the Asian-Pacific region: A Biodiversity-Climate-Society nexus perspective (2024)
  • Author(s): Huynh. LTM, Gasparatos, A.
  • Organizer: LANDMARC 4th General Assembly (29 February, Bali, Indonesia)
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Presentation] Assessing the willingness-to-pay and heterogeneity of public acceptability for mangrove restoration through a choice experiment (2024)
  • Author(s): Su, J.
  • Organizer: Xiangshan Forum (20 January, Xiamen, China)
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Presentation] Identifying green roof benefit priority areas within LCZs of Sumida Ward, Tokyo (2023)
  • Author(s): Aleksejeva, J., Voulgaris, G., Gasparatos, A.
  • Organizer: CSIS Days 2023: Annual Meeting of Inter-University Activities in Japan (24-25 November, Tokyo, Japan)
• [Presentation] Linking the intangible benefits of Nature with human wellbeing: insights from a systematic literature review and a case study in Da Nang city, Vietnam (2023)
  • Author(s): Gasparatos, A
  • Organizer: Global Research Seminar Series, Global Research Centre for Advanced Sustainability Science (GRASS), University of Toyama (23 July, Toyama, Japan)
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Presentation] Linking the intangible benefits of Nature with human wellbeing: insights from a systematic literature review and a case study in Da Nang city, Vietnam (2023)
  • Author(s): Gasparatos, A.
  • Organizer: Special Seminar at Manchester School of Architecture, University of Manchester (11 May, Manchester, UK)
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Presentation] A holistic framework for systematic mangrove restoration planning (2023)
  • Author(s): Su, J.
  • Organizer: The 34th General Assembly of IUBS (11-12 March, Tokyo, Japan)
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Presentation] Nature - human wellbeing - climate resilience nexus in ecosystem-based adaptation for coastal defence: Lessons learnt from Asian coastal cities (2023)
  • Author(s): Huynh. LTM, Gasparatos, A.
  • Organizer: The 34th General Assembly of IUBS (11-12 March, Tokyo, Japan)
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Presentation] Nature - human wellbeing - climate resilience nexus in ecosystem-based adaptation for coastal defence: Lessons learnt from Asian coastal cities. Transdisciplinary perspectives on climate change and coastal urban development in the Asia-Pacific. (2023)
  • Author(s): Huynh. LTM, Gasparatos, A.
  • Organizer: Conference on Transdisciplinary Perspectives on Climate Change and Coastal Urban Development in the Asia-Pacific (16-17 February, Singapore)
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Presentation] A spatial analysis of optimal locations for maximizing green roof benefits in Sumida Ward, Tokyo (2022)
  • Author(s): Aleksejeva, J., Voulgaris, G., Gasparatos, A.
  • Organizer: CSIS Days 2022: Annual Meeting of Inter-University Activities in Japan (18-19 November, Tokyo, Japan)
• [Presentation] Urbanization-induced mangrove degradation in Xiamen Island, China: trade-offs between economic development and ecosystem restoration (2022)
  • Author(s): Su, J.
  • Organizer: September 28-29, Athens, Greece
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Presentation] Unravelling different mechanisms linking cultural ecosystem services and human wellbeing (2022)
  • Author(s): Huynh. LTM. Gasparatos, A.
  • Organizer: Greece-Japan Sustainable Island Symposium (September 28-29, Athens, Greece)
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Funded Workshop] Greece-Japan Sustainable Islands Symposium 2022 (28-29 September 2022, Athens, Greece) (2022)