Urban forest visitors’ perceptions of biodiversity and its effects on their well-being

Abstract

The rapid loss of biological diversity due to human activities has increased interest in understanding the interdependencies between humans and biodiversity. The evidence base for the health and well-being effects of nature-based recreation is strong, but less is known about the role of biodiversity. This qualitative study explores the complex relationship between perceived biodiversity and well-being through the following questions: 1) how do visitors of an urban forest perceive different aspects of biodiversity, and 2) how do the different aspects of biodiversity affect their perceived well-being? These biodiversity aspects applied are species encountering, diversity and abundance, interactions between species, natural processes, sounds, colors, shapes, textures, smells, and seasonal changes. The data consists of semi-structured interviews of participants (n = 12) on two guided visits in the Lahti Health Forest, Finland.

The participants paid effortlessly attention to sounds, colors, and strong natural smells, whereas processes, textures, and shapes required more focus. Perceptions were affected by intentionality, activity, mindset, ecological knowledge, quality, and familiarity with a forest. The findings indicate that the multisensory experience of biodiversity is significant for the restorative and stress reduction potential of a recreational forest. At the same time, processes, seasonal changes, and textures are meaningful regarding spiritual well-being. The findings emphasize the potential of biodiverse nature to improve well-being comprehensively. By paying attention to the perceivable attributes of biodiversity in urban areas and promoting the recreational use of biodiverse natural environments, mutual benefits could be achieved for both biodiversity protection and human well-being.