Patterns of Visitor Perception of Services and Disservices in Urban Green Spaces: Insights from a Fast-Growing City in the Peruvian Amazon

Abstract

Urban green spaces (UGSs) are considered a key component of the urban ecosystem because they promote sustainable development and can improve people’s quality of life. The present study aimed to analyze human perceptions of services and disservices provided by UGSs in the city of Puerto Maldonado (southeastern Peruvian Amazon) and their relationships with socioeconomic variables. A questionnaire was designed to quantify the degree of user agreement regarding 14 services and 15 disservices provided by UGSs. Cultural and ecosystem services received the highest level of agreement. Thus, providing shade and reducing air temperature, improving air quality, beautifying the urban environment, and regulating rainwater were the four most important services of UGSs. However, the respondents perceived that the main concerns generated by UGSs were reduced visibility for drivers and damage to infrastructure. There were significant but weak associations among four socioeconomic factors and residents’ perception. Likewise, the age, education, and income level of respondents were significantly related to perceived levels of most UGS services and disservices. The findings are valuable because they provide relevant information for developing sustainable public policies for urban areas and to align them to maintain and enhance the services provided by UGSs and diminish their potential disservices.