Environmental [in]equity: Accessibility to green spaces in rapidly urbanizing mountain-cities

Abstract

Open Green Spaces (OGS) provide a range of cultural ecosystems services including health benefits through recreational and tourism opportunities. Rapid and oftentimes unplanned urbanization can result in the loss of OGS, negatively affecting urban dwellers’ health and wellbeing. An example is the rapidly expanding city of San Carlos de Bariloche, located in the Argentinean Patagonia, surrounded by the iconic Nahuel Huapi National Park. The study reported here sought to assess the availability and distribution equity of public OGS in Bariloche. The study found inequalities in access and distribution; ‘wealthier’ neighbourhoods offered more OGS than poorer neighbourhoods. Better regulation of development is required and future land use plans need to preserve and protect future OGS sites and improve access points to existing OGS to ensure more equitable access to diverse natural landscapes.