AWARENESS AND PERCEPTIONS OF URBAN ECOSYSTEM SERVICES IN CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION: AN INDIAN CASE STUDY

Nirmita Mehrotra

doi:10.29121/ijoest.v9.i5.2025.721

Authors

Dr. Nirmita Mehrotra Head, Dept. of Urban & Regional Planning, Gautam Buddha University, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29121/ijoest.v9.i5.2025.721

Keywords:

Ecosystem Services, Urbanisation, Climate Change, Stakeholders & Awareness

Abstract

Urban ecosystem services (UES) play a crucial role in reducing climate-related risks and boosting the adaptive capacity of cities, especially in the rapidly changing landscapes of the Global South (Gómez-Baggethun et al., 2013; Haase et al., 2014). In India, urban growth often comes at the expense of ecological infrastructure, and public awareness is a vital yet underexplored factor in the success of ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) strategies (Nagendra et al., 2018; McPhearson et al., 2016). This research assessed public awareness of UES in Dwarka, New Delhi. Using a mixed-methods approach that combines site studies, structured interviews, and mapping of green and blue infrastructure, the study investigates how various stakeholders perceive the ecological, socio-cultural, and adaptive roles of urban ecosystems. The results indicate a strong emphasis on provisioning and regulating services, such as tree cover, shade, and air quality, while supporting and cultural services, like biodiversity support and heritage landscapes, are frequently undervalued (Andersson et al., 2015; Andersson et al., 2014; Kabisch et al., 2016). Awareness levels are shaped by factors such as education, proximity to green spaces, socioeconomic status, and civic engagement (Raymond et al., 2017; Ernstson & Sörlin, 2013). The findings are derived from 200 in-person surveys conducted with randomly selected visitors to parks and other areas, along with 122 Google Form responses from various stakeholders.

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