Public garden squares and mean monthly per capita income in Curitiba, PR, Brazil: inequalities in the distribution and access of benefits generated by nature

Abstract

The urban forest generates diverse ecosystem services for people. Among the components of the urban forest, public garden squares are different for having a smaller area but a greater quantity and better distribution across cities, acting as small forests that provide benefits. However, these benefits may not be shared by the entire population, due to the variability in the vegetation cover of the squares and the inequality concerning areas with better or worse socioeconomic conditions. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between the squares and the mean monthly income in the 40 clustered neighborhoods of Curitiba, aiming at supporting urban planning to maintain equal distribution of benefits to the population or reduce inequalities, if any. Thus, quantitative and qualitative data from the squares were compared to the mean monthly income through descriptive and correlation statistical analysis and spatial data visualization. Results indicate that neighborhoods with lower income have fewer squares concerning the neighborhood total area and fewer tree species in total and per square. Neighborhoods with higher incomes have better indicators of quantity and quality, in general, except for the mean square area and permeability. We concluded that the benefits are not equally distributed to the entire population of Curitiba, with a loss of access to the benefits generated by the squares and their ecosystem services for the population with worse socioeconomic conditions.