A Sustainable Urban Green Space Management Framework for Enhanced Biodiversity and Community Wellbeing

Thesis Abstract

Urban green spaces (UGS) are critical environmental assets that contribute significantly to biodiversity conservation and community wellbeing in rapidly expanding cities. However, ineffective management practices often undermine these benefits, leading to ecological degradation and diminished social values. This study aims to develop a comprehensive, sustainable management framework for urban green spaces that optimizes biodiversity and enhances community wellbeing. Specific objectives include identifying key drivers affecting green space sustainability, evaluating current management practices, and proposing an integrated framework based on ecological and social considerations. The research adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative stakeholder interviews within the metropolitan area of a major city with a population of approximately 4 million residents. A stratified random sampling technique was employed to survey 500 residents and 50 green space managers, ensuring representativeness across socio-economic groups and spatial zones of the city. Data collection instruments comprised structured questionnaires assessing perceptions of green space quality, biodiversity support, and wellbeing, complemented by semi-structured interview guides to explore management practices and policy gaps. Validity and reliability of instruments were established through pilot testing and Cronbach’s alpha coefficients exceeding 0.78. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple regression models to examine relationships between management practices, biodiversity indicators, and community wellbeing. Qualitative data underwent thematic analysis based on Braun and Clarke’s framework, facilitating the identification of recurrent themes and stakeholder perspectives. The study hypothesizes that sustainable management practices positively influence biodiversity levels and community wellbeing, mediated by socio-ecological factors. It is also expected that the proposed framework will demonstrate significant predictive capacity when tested against empirical data. Anticipated findings include identifying management practices that effectively balance ecological integrity with social needs, revealing gaps in current policies and stakeholder engagement, and establishing a causal link between well-designed green space management and improved biodiversity and community health outcomes. These insights will contribute to the theoretical understanding of urban ecology and social-ecological systems, specifically through an integrative management model grounded in sustainability science and supported by Steven and Brigitte's Social-Ecological Systems Theory and the Ecological Systems Theory by Urie Bronfenbrenner. The study aims to produce a validated sustainable urban green space management framework adaptable to similar urban contexts. Its contribution to knowledge lies in combining ecological and social paradigms into a cohesive, operational model that informs policymakers, urban planners, and environmental managers in designing resilient green spaces that foster biodiversity conservation and community wellbeing. The main conclusion asserts that sustainable management practices are essential to maintaining and enhancing UGS benefits, urging a shift towards participatory, adaptive management strategies. Recommendations advocate for policy reforms emphasizing integrated planning, stakeholder inclusion, and ongoing monitoring. The study also suggests avenues for future research, notably longitudinal assessments of framework implementation and comparative analyses across different urban environments, to refine and expand the applicability of the proposed model.