The importance of urban natural areas and urban ecosystem services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT: Urban, peri-urban forests and other natural areas provide a wide range of material and non-material benefits to people known as ecosystem services. Access to these areas has been linked to benefits for physical and mental health of local populations. In the spring of 2020, the COVID-19 global pandemic forced many governments to impose a set of restrictions including the closure of businesses, cancelation of public events and schooling, social distancing, limitations on the size of social gatherings, and travel restrictions. During this period of restrictions, we conducted a study assessing the importance of urban and peri-urban forests and other natural areas to people living in and around the city of Burlington, Vermont, USA. We evaluated the self-reported use and changes in personal impo

SUBMITTER: Grima N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7746267 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature