SERVIÇO ECOSSISTÊMICO CULTURAL E PERCEPÇÃO AMBIENTAL EM ÁREAS VERDES URBANAS NA CIDADE DE JOÃO PESSOA (PB)

Abstract

Uncontrolled urbanization causes environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity, heat islands, and pollution, impacting the quality of life and resilience of cities. In turn, Urban Green Areas (UGA) are essential to mitigate these problems, as they offer diverse Ecosystem Services (ES), such as improvements in air quality and microclimate regulation. Based on this problem, this research aimed to investigate the importance of UGA in promoting ES in the city of João Pessoa-PB. To this end, the research adopted a descriptive, explanatory, interdisciplinary approach of a qualitative nature. Four UGA were selected in João Pessoa, namely the Arruda Câmara Zoobotanical Park (Bica), the Sólon de Lucena Park (Lagoa Park), the Benjamim Maranhão Botanical Garden (Mata do Buraquinho), and the Cuiá Municipal Natural Park (Cuiá Park). To identify the Cultural SEs, a survey of the activities developed in these spaces was carried out and the environmental perception of the users of these environments was verified. The results indicate the relevance of AVU in the provision of the SEs investigated, especially in the areas already implemented and that receive attention from the competent bodies, also demonstrating the relevance of green areas in the development of animal and plant species, which leads to the need for effective public policies in the process of creating and managing these areas.