Areas with natural potential in Brazil: an essay about the activities and the uses

Abstract A fast increasing process of urbanisation has led to the deterioration of the relationship between man and nature. The population has become increasingly more distant from natural areas, as these spaces are being lost due to the expansion of cities. The aim of this paper is to investigate trends in the use of natural spaces, their characteristics, and the activities that usually take place in them, based on the preferences of young people living in a southern Brazilian city. The Greenmapper online platform was used for data collection. It analyses the link between users and green areas at four levels: neighbourhood, city (region), country, and world. The results indicate that users choose to utilise urban green spaces for their well-being and the emotional bonds they create, regardless of their infrastructure, since walking and sightseeing are the main activities performed. The study’s results provide an understanding of the needs and the distribution of natural areas for the sustainable cities of the future, so as to improve their preservation and appreciation.

摘要 快速推进的城市化进程致使人与自然的关系持续恶化。伴随城市扩张导致自然空间不断缩减，人类与自然区域的距离亦日益疏远。本研究旨在基于巴西南部一座城市中年轻人的使用偏好，探究自然空间的使用趋势、自身特征及其中常见的活动类型。本研究采用Greenmapper在线平台开展数据采集工作，该平台从四个层级分析用户与城市绿地的关联：街区、城市（区域）、国家及全球层面。研究结果显示，尽管不同城市绿地的基础设施条件存在差异，但用户选择城市绿地的核心目的是为了获取身心福祉并建立情感联结，其中步行与游览为主要活动。本研究结果可为未来可持续城市的自然空间需求与布局优化提供认知支撑，助力自然空间的保护与公众认知提升。