How do visitors perceive the urban greenery microclimate in the city’s only green space? A case study in Brazilian semi-arid

Uncontrolled urban growth in Brazil has led to the formation of Urban Heat Islands (UHI), negatively impacting thermal comfort in cities. This study investigates thermal comfort in the Parque Natural Municipal das Timbaúbas, the only Conservation Unit in Juazeiro do Norte, Brazilian Northeast (semi-arid region), exploring how tree cover influences the local microclimate. Differences in air temperature, humidity, and heat index (HI) were analyzed in various areas of the park over a 12-month period. Using variance analysis (ANOVA), differences between areas with and without vegetation cover (WVC and NVC) were examined. Visitor perceptions of thermal comfort were assessed through 500 questionnaires. The results indicate that areas with vegetation cover showed an average reduction of 3.3 °C in air temperature and a 7.3 % increase in relative humidity compared to areas without vegetation cover. The greatest differences in temperature and humidity were observed in the most densely wooded area, with a 6.4 °C decrease in temperature and a 16.2 % increase in humidity. The most critical points, classified as “Extreme Caution” highlight the importance of vegetation cover in mitigating heat. The analysis revealed that 68.4 % of visitors frequent the park in the afternoon, coinciding with the highest temperature values. This study emphasizes the importance of urban tree cover as a strategy to mitigate UHI and improve quality of life in urban areas of this region of Brazil, reinforcing the need for public policies that expand and maintain green spaces.