Environmental management of urban parks: the case of the Gunnar Vingren Ecological Park in Belem, Para state, Brazil

This paper addresses the factors that facilitate and hamper the implementation of urban parks. It discusses the advantages and difficulties inherent to the implementation of urban parks, taking into account the multiple interests involving social actors. The present study analyzes the case of the Gunnar Vingren Ecological Park in Belem, Para state, Brazil, and focuses on the concepts of participation, urban governance and environmental management. It uses the stakeholder theory to identify social actors and understand their behavior in the implementation process of the park. Methodologically, the research was based on qualitative approach and used direct observation and semi-structured interviews for data collection. It shows the importance of urban social movements to preserve the green areas of the city and improve urban life quality. It indicates that the environmental management of urban parks depends fundamentally on the spatial planning of their inner areas and surroundings. It shows that, in areas with disordered territory, there is high possibility of pressure on the park and depredation of its natural resources. The study also shows that urban management patterns influence the level of participation of social actors in the management committees of parks. Empirically, this paper shows a great progress in the institutional capacity for the management of the Gunnar Vingren Park; however, paradoxically, the municipal government organizational capacity is limited to manage the whole system. The most significant challenge in managing urban parks is to develop a participatory governance alliance between stakeholders.

本研究探讨了推动与掣肘城市公园建设实施的各类因素。本文兼顾涉及多元社会行动者的多重利益诉求，论述了城市公园建设进程中固有的优势与实施难点。本研究以巴西帕拉州贝伦市的古纳尔·维格林生态公园（Gunnar Vingren Ecological Park）为分析案例，聚焦参与式治理（participatory governance）、城市治理（urban governance）与环境管理（environmental management）三大核心概念。研究借助利益相关者理论（stakeholder theory）识别社会行动者，并解析其在公园建设实施全过程中的行为逻辑。方法论层面，本研究采用定性研究方法（qualitative approach），通过直接观察与半结构化访谈（semi-structured interviews）开展数据采集工作。研究证实了城市社会运动对于保护城市绿地、提升城市人居品质的关键作用。研究表明，城市公园的环境管理从根本上依托于园区内部及其周边区域的空间规划布局。研究发现，在国土开发无序的区域，公园面临的保护压力与自然资源遭破坏的风险显著升高。此外，城市管理模式会直接影响社会行动者参与公园管理委员会的程度。从实证维度来看，本研究显示古纳尔·维格林生态公园的管理机构能力已取得长足进步；但矛盾的是，市级政府的组织能力难以支撑整个公园管理体系的运转。当前城市公园管理面临的最核心挑战，在于构建起利益相关者之间的参与式治理联盟。