While access to nature is recognized as a fundamental human right, the manner in which individuals use green spaces varies significantly due to inequalities. A research group from Kobe University investigated the factors influencing people’s exposure to nature across different generations, including the availability of green spaces where they live, work, and shop, alongside their connection to nature and past experiences in natural settings. These insights could guide urban planning and educational strategies aimed at enhancing public health.
Spending time in green spaces benefits people’s mental and physical health. Nonetheless, the frequency of visits to these areas is not equal across the population, raising concerns among urban planners and regional authorities. Research has primarily concentrated on the accessibility of green areas in residential neighborhoods and their relation to socioeconomic indicators. UCHIYAMA Yuta, a human environmental scientist at Kobe University, emphasizes, “Although having access to quality natural spaces is a fundamental right, it is often regarded as a lesser priority since policymakers mistakenly believe it can be addressed through economic growth. “
To delve deeper into this issue, Uchiyama and his team conducted a survey in Japan’s two largest metropolitan regions: the Kanto area, which encompasses Tokyo, and the Kansai area, which includes Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe. They surveyed 3,500 participants about their frequency and locations of visits to green spaces, along with their living, working, and shopping locations, as well as demographic information like age, gender, and income. They also examined participants’ relationships with nature and their available free time. Publicly accessible geographic data was utilized to link these responses to the sizes and configurations of green spaces in their environments. The leading author from Kobe University states: “My personal experiences made it clear that understanding daily life as a whole is essential. Encountering plants and animals (even wild boars on campus) while commuting or shopping connects me to nature and provides a momentary escape from daily routines. Therefore, a comprehensive view of these various factors is vital.”
Published in the Journal of Environmental Management, their findings indicated that individuals are more likely to use green spaces if such areas are present in various aspects of their daily life, not just near their homes. The researcher remarks: “This evidence can inform policymaking, particularly within environmental management and urban planning, highlighting the usefulness of green spaces beyond residential neighborhoods, integrating them throughout everyday settings.” Furthermore, the study highlighted that early exposure to nature and a strong connection to it were significant factors motivating visits, and that the connection to nature increased with age. “This underlines the necessity for effective environmental education across all age groups,” Uchiyama notes.
Nonetheless, the foundational conditions for such policies differ between monsoon Asia and urban environments in North America and Europe. Uchiyama clarifies, “Cities in East and Southeast Asia tend to blend more with rural surroundings compared to those in Europe and North America; in essence, the proximity between urban and rural spaces is closer, lacking a distinct boundary.” In Japan, this intricate setting is referred to as the “satoyama landscape,” which remains prevalent in the outskirts of major cities like Tokyo and Osaka. In fact, the research findings reveal that proximity to agricultural areas and irregularly shaped green spaces strongly correlates with how frequently individuals utilize these spaces, demonstrating the significance of such landscapes.”
The human environmental scientist is looking at the broader implications: “Our ongoing research also aims to examine health outcomes associated with visits to nature, utilizing big data methods such as mobile GPS tracking to analyze where and how long individuals are engaging with green spaces. Ultimately, I hope our research will aid in developing policies that address the unequal access to nature, which we believe is a fundamental issue underlying various social and environmental challenges. After all, access to nature is a basic human right.”
This study was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (grants 22H03813 and 23H03605) and the Ministry of the Environment, Japan (grant 1FS-2201). It was conducted in collaboration with researchers from the University of the Ryukyus, Meio University, and Kyoto University.
