Summary of the study
Recreational use of forests usually consists of activities done as a hobby, such as walking, cycling or berry-picking. In Finland, almost 96% of the adult population is engaging in outdoor activities for recreational activities. Therefore, almost every Finn holds a personal view on forest environments. Nevertheless, even if urban forests have been proven to be essential to the well-being of citizens in Europe, scarce are the studies in Finland. By conducting an anonymous online questionnaire, we aim to understand the importance of urban forests for Finnish citizens by studying citizen perception of the environment, recreational uses and the impact on citizen welfare.
Material and Methods
This project is going to start this year (2026). We aim to conduct an anonymous online questionnaire, answered on WEBROPOL and open for a one-year period. The questionnaire will explore various aspects of how citizens relate to urban forests. It will assess 1) general information about the respondents, 2) the engagement of citizens with forests and green areas, 3) the preferences towards forests and green areas, 4) how forests and green areas impact the citizens welfare and 5) what could deter or motivate citizens to engage more with forests and green areas.
Preliminary results
No preliminary result for now. Our questionnaire will start soon (Spring 2026) and will be available both in Finnish and English. Stay tuned!
Publications associated
No publication or manuscript in preparation for now.
Scientific and societal impact
No scientific and societal impact for now.
We thank our funder(s) for this project: