Assessing the value of urban green and blue spaces for health and well-being

Overview

A growing body of evidence demonstrates the potential of urban green and blue spaces to support and promote health and well-being. These impacts can be used to value the multifunctional benefits (and risks) derived from these spaces. Valuing green and blue spaces is particularly important for policy-makers and practitioners owing to land scarcity and competing land usages. These constraints call for the efficient resource allocation of natural and financial capitals. Therefore, urban planning and design should take account of the value of nature – for environmental, social and health benefits, and in economic terms. This report outlines the range of benefits from urban green and blue spaces and the different approaches, both qualitative and quantitative, that policy-makers and practitioners can use to assess the value of urban green and blue spaces and their impacts on health and well-being.