Accessibility within a rural-urban interface.

The accessibility of green infrastructures, such as urban green spaces and urban and peri-urban forests, is an important determinant of access to ecosystem services such as recreational functions, cooling, etc. The accessibility of such green elements was assessed in 2019 in a pan-European, cross-boundary accessibility analysis. The study takes CORINE land-use data as a starting point and formulates a spatially explicit rural-urban green supply interface based on it.

What is it good for?

Assessing the accessibility of different types of green infrastructure allows for the improvement of green provision by supporting planning and management. 

The inclusion of green spaces and forests both inside and outside urban municipalities aims to better reflect the reality of life and the use of green spaces by the inhabitants, as this is usually only partially oriented towards administrative boundaries. This should also improve planning and management.

What is the context?

Good accessibility to green spaces and various elements of green infrastructure is important for physical and mental well-being, reduces stress and prevents illness. This is particularly important in densely populated urban areas and urban regions.

Green spaces are of high importance for climate change adaptation by, for example, regulating and reducing air temperature.