GREEN SPACES AND PUBLIC HEALTH IN URBAN AREAS

Abstract

Quality of life in cities depends largely on the availability of attractive and accessible green spaces. It is generally agreed that urban green spaces are essential for the health and well-being of citizens. This paper aims to broach the issue of urban green spaces, emphasizing their importance (embodied in at least three categories of benefits: environmental, economic and social) and focusing on the idea that the existence of green spaces may contribute to obtaining savings or income in a city’s treasury. Therefore, it takes shape the belief that the effects gained from investing in planning and protecting urban green infrastructure, could turn into economic effects. Last decade, researchers have shown a real interest in finding ways to quantify what is called today the economic value brought by the existence of green areas in cities.green spaces, human health, social benefits, hedonic value.