07.12.2021 - Green spaces have gained highest priority for Viennese in times of the pandemic

A recent BOKU study shows that the use of green and open spaces "on the doorstep" has never been more important in the federal capital and the neighbouring municipalities since the beginning of the SARS-Cov-2 pandemic.

Leaving one's home for the purpose of mental and physical recreation is permitted also during this fourth lockdown. A current study by the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna shows how important this is for mental and physical health and what significance green spaces have in this context, especially in urban and peri-urban areas. Priv.-Doz.ⁱⁿ DIⁱⁿ Dr.ⁱⁿ Alexandra Jiricka-Pürrer, DIⁱⁿ Dr.ⁱⁿ Karolina Taczanowska and Donna Tansil (BSc.) from the Institute for Landscape Development, Recreation and Conservation Planning have investigated how green spaces have been used since the beginning of the SARS-Cov-2 pandemic in a study representative of the population of the city of Vienna with 1012 respondents from Vienna as well as the neighbouring surrounding municipalities (see Figure 1).

On the one hand, the results show the high importance of private green spaces, but they also make clear that especially large green spaces and protected areas in and around the city of Vienna - such as the Vienna Woods Biosphere Reserve or the Danube Floodplains National Park - have an important role for recreation seekers, especially in times of crisis (see Figure 2).

Spatial Shift

Karolina Taczanowska underlines the spatial shift in recreational use: "Recreation close to home has increased in Corona times. In particular, green and open spaces "on the doorstep" are being visited more frequently, while at the moment trips abroad are still in the pipeline." The most important motive for visiting green spaces both before and during the pandemic was to recover and relax. Other motives such as "doing sports and exercise", "going to the 'green' as well as enjoying nature", on the other hand, increased during the pandemic.

Overall, there is clear agreement on the increased importance of spending time in nature or green spaces. Almost seventy percent (68%) of respondents felt that the statement "It has become more important to me to spend time in green spaces and nature" was very true or true. Likewise, green and open spaces close to home have predominantly gained in importance. The statement "It has become more important to me to be able to visit an extensive green space" was rated as "true" or "very true" (33%) by 34% of the respondents.

Especially important for women and young adults

The study also shows very clearly that about 90% of the Viennese population as well as those of the surrounding communities felt and still feel that spending time in green spaces was very important or important for their mental health during the pandemic. The value for physical health is also seen by 87% of the respondents. For younger adults and women in particular, spending time in nature and having access to green open spaces, especially large green spaces, has become more important (see Figure 3). Alexandra Jiricka-Pürrer summarises: "On average, people don't spend more time in nature than before the pandemic, but they attach a different importance to spending time in green spaces as a resource especially for their mental and physical health." Donna Tansil, a master's student at BOKU, points out the social role of public space especially for young people during the pandemic.