Growing green: Exploring the drivers of citizens’ participation in Italian urban and peri-urban forestation governance

Lucia Baldi, Maria Teresa Trentinaglia, Alkis Thrassou, Antonino Galati

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Urban and peri-urban forests (UPUFs) are essential components of urban landscapes that offer multiple benefits to local communities, above all to those who live in large cities. This realization has fueled the interest of the scientific community in understanding citizens’ attitudes and perceptions towards UPUFs, focusing on the diverse ecosystem services they provide in social and environmental terms. However, less attention has been paid to the citizens’ perceptions and attitudes about UPUFs in relation to their willingness to participate in their governance. This quantitative study aims to address this gap by identifying the main factors that affect citizens’ participation in UPUFs governance. Conducted in large Italian Metropolitan Functional Urban Areas, composed of a city and its commuting zone, with a population above 500,000 inhabitants, this study provides valuable insights into citizens’ willingness to participate in UPUFs governance. Results indicate that citizens' socio-demographic factors (especially education, age, and income) and the frequency of visits impact their perception of UPUFs. High positive perceptions of environmental quality and low perceptions of the negative impact of UPUFs promote active participation in governance, especially among young citizens with heightened green space sensitivity, among those dissatisfied with current green space management and those advocating for effective communication campaigns. These findings can provide a practicable scientific reference for municipalities to refine their corresponding decision-making and communication, and to devise effective urban forest programs.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number107385
    JournalLand Use Policy
    Volume148
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Jan 2025

    Keywords

    • Big cities
    • Citizens’ perceptions
    • Environmental attitude
    • SUR analysis
    • Urban green areas
    • Willingness to participate

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