Cultural ecosystem services along the Woluwe River: mapping the potential for a cross-regional green-blue network during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The cultural and social benefits of green open spaces (GOSs) are frequently disregarded in environmental planning and policy. The online PPGIS tool, mygreenplace.be, was used to map the cultural ecosystem services (CES) in the GOSs along the Woluwe River. This research aims to clarify the role of CES, spatial qualities and travel distance in GOSs’ valuation and their respective environmental planning and management. The analysis revealed that highly valued GOSs (CES hot spots) offer a diverse combination of CES, mainly activities related to playing and exercising, gathering and consuming. Likewise, these popular, highly valued GOSs provide various facilities enabling these activities (e.g. restaurants, water elements and transportation). Although travel distance proved quintessential for using GOSs, other factors, such as their qualities and attributes, can determine whether, and how frequently, respondents use a particular GOS. Finally, the data showed that the COVID-19 pandemic has positively influenced the use of and appreciation for GOSs.