Towards Human Health, Well-Being and Sustainability: Establishing and Testing a Key Indicators Framework Tailored for Different Types of Green Spaces

Abstract

The NATURELAB project aims to enhance green and blue spaces, strenghtening climate resilience, biodiversity, and water management while promoting environmental, health and societal benefits for a sustainable future. The type and quality of green spaces strongly influences health and well-being of the users, which is significant for the case of nature-based interventions (NBI). NATURELAB developed a Framework of Key Indicators to address this therapeutic potential and assess diferent nature spaces, namerly i) forests and protected areas, ii) urban parks and healing gardens, and iii) horticultural and gardening spaces. The framework integrates cultural ecosystem services (CES) and resilient dimensions. It distinguishes indicators by complexity (Levels 1 – 3), and suitability for each of the nature contexts typologies. This work presents the framework as well as the results of its application to 14 project experimental sites (ES). This methodology can support city planners to implement nature-based solutions with high impact in population’s health and well-being.