Urban Green Areas – their functions under a changing lifestyle of ...
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Urban Green Areas – their functions under a changing lifestyle of ...

Urban Green Areas – their functions under a changing lifestyle of ... Urban Green Areas – their functions under a changing lifestyle of ...

ub.ed.ub.uni.greifswald.de
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28.02.2014 Views

The following overlapping and interacting factors and developments have to be taken into consideration, although they are not the most important ones. Maintenance costs of UGAs: One cannot usually earn any money through UGAs, it is public space and (local) people like and need to use the parks. But maintenance causes costs. Even if an entrance fee is charged, the fees do not cover the whole costs. UGAs are always in deficit. Thus there is always a latent desire of any administration to avoid or to reduce these costs. A simple solution to reduce the costs is by decreasing the space of UGAs. Utilization competition between different economic, social and environmental aspects: Due to the limited space in cities there is always a strong competition for how to use the urban area. In growing cities the demand of business for areas to construct (high) office buildings is huge. As UGAs bring no financial profits and cause costs, it can be observed in many cities all over the world that the share of green areas in the center of cities increases. The step to use free (green) areas as building areas is a very long-lasting decision because buildings have an extremely long life. Usually building areas are never changed back to green spaces. “There are conflicts between economic benefit and social benefit” (EXPERT-F 2011). Example of opaque is that, if people do not want to go to parks, the city will use the land for hotels and business centres, which bring much more financial benefit than a park. Ms. HANH gave a simple cost-benefit example: “After investing in a project for Thong Nhat park, the investor can have 400 million VND. Even if the investor has to pay a lot of black money (due to corruption) to one or two persons to own the project, he/she still has 200 million VND in interest. Because payment for one or two people is always smaller than the financial interest or by pushing the prices of products or services at the end higher, he/ she can earn much more interest at the end”. However, the environment has recently become a fashionable term not only in academic circles but also on a political level. Its power is used as an effective tool to reach specific goals. For example, “the project to construct the hotel-business building Vincom in Thong Nhat park failed. Environmental preservation was used as a weapon against the project but the reason behind it is private economic purpose” (EXPERT-F 2012). Rising awareness of the benefits of UGAs as well as urban comfort: UGAs bring visible ecological and social benefits and less visible or indirect economic benefits to a city (see chapter 2.4). In contrast, the direct interest and actual needs from business are often easier to see and to understand than the long-term effects. But recently, public consciousness concerning environmental aspects and common citizens’ 103

ights (e.g. regarding urban planning) as well as personal health and interests is rising. This development overlaps a great deal with social change and personal lifestyle (see below). “Environment is not a matter of urgency to survive in Hanoi. The citizens just care about issues directly related to aspects of life. However their awareness of the environment has increased” (EXPERT-F 2012). People see very clearly the positive benefits of the parks: Nearly all people (96.5 %) agree on the positive environmental effects of parks (see figure 5.2), the social functions are also seen and even the economic value of parks are confirmed by 72 %. environment 64.1 32.4 3.0 .5 totally agree society 55.5 37.2 5.51.8 agree no idea economy 35.9 36.1 20.0 8.0 not agree 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Figure 5.2: Benefits of UGAs (Own survey, 2010-2011) There are already some actions of vanguards who primarily like to act instead of spending time with talking. For instance, since 06/03/2011 a group (Ho Guom wastecollecting group- the youth volunteers) initiated an action to clean up the Hoan Kiem park. They gather every Sunday afternoon to clean the park. Then social media (internet Vietnamnet, television as the channel VCT10) contacted them to report on their activities. Governmental objectives and the power and competence of public bodies to realize their plans: Departments responsible for UGAs know about the importance of, need for and demand of free and green public areas. Their (master) plans respect the social and environmental functions. But due to the above addressed costs and competing economic pressure it is very difficult for the departments to realize their concepts, to defend their UGAs against all other pressing demands. Finally, it is a political decision to respect social and environmental needs and to ensure a livable city for future generations. Insufficient UGAs or decreasing shares of free space are an indicator of political mistakes in the past or show a weak (and often corrupt) current political system. 104

ights (e.g. regarding urban planning) as well as personal health and interests is rising.<br />

This development overlaps a great deal with social change and personal <strong>lifestyle</strong> (see<br />

below).<br />

“Environment is not a matter <strong>of</strong> urgency to survive in Hanoi. The citizens just care about<br />

issues directly related to aspects <strong>of</strong> life. However <strong>their</strong> awareness <strong>of</strong> the environment has<br />

increased” (EXPERT-F 2012).<br />

People see very clearly the positive benefits <strong>of</strong> the parks: Nearly all people (96.5 %)<br />

agree on the positive environmental effects <strong>of</strong> parks (see figure 5.2), the social <strong>functions</strong><br />

are also seen and even the economic value <strong>of</strong> parks are confirmed by 72 %.<br />

environment<br />

64.1<br />

32.4<br />

3.0 .5<br />

totally agree<br />

society<br />

55.5<br />

37.2<br />

5.51.8<br />

agree<br />

no idea<br />

economy<br />

35.9<br />

36.1<br />

20.0<br />

8.0<br />

not agree<br />

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%<br />

Figure 5.2: Benefits <strong>of</strong> UGAs (Own survey, 2010-2011)<br />

There are already some actions <strong>of</strong> vanguards who primarily like to act instead <strong>of</strong><br />

spending time with talking. For instance, since 06/03/2011 a group (Ho Guom wastecollecting<br />

group- the youth volunteers) initiated an action to clean up the Hoan Kiem<br />

park. They gather every Sunday afternoon to clean the park. Then social media (internet<br />

Vietnamnet, television as the channel VCT10) contacted them to report on <strong>their</strong><br />

activities.<br />

Governmental objectives and the power and competence <strong>of</strong> public bodies to realize<br />

<strong>their</strong> plans:<br />

Departments responsible for UGAs know about the importance <strong>of</strong>, need for and demand<br />

<strong>of</strong> free and green public areas. Their (master) plans respect the social and environmental<br />

<strong>functions</strong>. But due to the above addressed costs and competing economic pressure it is<br />

very difficult for the departments to realize <strong>their</strong> concepts, to defend <strong>their</strong> UGAs against<br />

all other pressing demands. Finally, it is a political decision to respect social and<br />

environmental needs and to ensure a livable city for future generations. Insufficient<br />

UGAs or decreasing shares <strong>of</strong> free space are an indicator <strong>of</strong> political mistakes in the past<br />

or show a weak (and <strong>of</strong>ten corrupt) current political system.<br />

104

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