| dc.description.abstract | Blue-green infrastructures have been widely adopted as a climate mitigation strategy and provide multiple ecosystem benefits. An evaluation of the perception of blue-green infrastructure among the public can be useful for policy development and spatial planning. Since blue-green infrastructures are considered to enhance the aesthetic quality of a landscape, it is important to know how different categories of users feel about such landscape elements. The case study area is in the campus of the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. Using a mixed-methods approach, a total of 131 responses were collected from students, municipality residents and other individuals who utilize the infrastructure in any way. The findings revealed a general similarity in aesthetic preferences and ecosystem benefits enjoyed, among the different stakeholders. Although slightly significant differences were recorded when socio-demographic factors were included alongside individual responses. The responses indicate that gender, distance to the infrastructure, nationality and environmental consciousness of individuals play a significant role in the perception of blue-green infrastructures among stakeholders. This is linked to the fact that the respondents live at various distances from the infrastructure, those who attend school or work may tend to live closer to the infrastructure thus enjoy most of the benefits than others. The group of students had a total of 23 nationalities which infers that their preferences may vary based on what they are accustomed to in their home country. Among the 11 benefits of blue-green infrastructure listed in the survey, most respondents preferred habitat for plants and animals, water storage to prevent flood and clean water for the environment but were also concerned about ease of maintenance. | |
