Het potentieel van tuinbeheer voor klimaatadaptatie: een socio-ecologisch perspectief

Cities worldwide are facing escalating challenges of rapid population growth, urbanization, and the intensifying impacts of climate change. As urban areas expand and environmental pressures mount, scaling up adaptation measures through climate-resilient urban planning and design is essential to ensure quality of life for current and future generations. While previous research and policy have predominantly focussed on large-scale and public green infrastructure, one vital component of the urban green and blue network has remained hidden and largely unexplored: private domestic gardens. Domestic gardens account for 16% to 36% of urban areas worldwide, representing a substantial, though fragmented, share of urban green space. Despite their small individual size and private character, their collective network holds significant potential for climate change adaptation and mitigation by providing various ecosystem services. However, this potential cannot be attributed to their ecological characteristics alone. Gardens are inherently socio-ecological systems where people and nature interact over time and space, shaping the quantity and quality of ecosystem services they provide. Therefore, this dissertation explored the climate change adaptation potential of garden management through a socio-ecological perspective. Chapter 2 introduces Flanders (Belgium) as the study area, outlining its climatic and spatial context, the characteristics of its garden landscape, and insights from gardeners gathered through interviews and a photo reportage. Although domestic gardens cover a large share of the region and hold considerable potential, their management remains diverse and primarily driven by individual preferences rather than coordinated policy efforts. In Chapter 3, a systematic review following the ROSES protocol provides an overview of the existing knowledge on small-scale nature-based solutions applicable in domestic gardens for climate change adaptation. The chapter stresses the urgent need for more quantitative research on the range and effectiveness of ecosystem services provided by small-scale nature-based solutions. It also reflects upon the feasibility and practical implications of improving current lawn management practices, reducing soil sealing or pavement, and increasing tree cover in domestic gardens. Using survey data of 827 garden owners and Structural Equation Modelling, Chapter 4 examines how motivations, knowledge, spatial- and socio-economic factors are associated with specific garden management decisions related to sealed soil, lawns, and tree cover. Our findings show that spatial context, socio-economic status, and personal motivations are more critical in shaping garden management than knowledge alone. Drawing on survey data of 1,286 garden owners, in Chapter 5, multiple ordinal regressions and correlation analyses are applied to examine how household and parcel characteristics affect garden use, garden composition, and residents' willingness and barriers to making changes. Flemish gardens are mainly used for relaxation and enjoying the view. Although household and parcel characteristics influence garden use, no strong link was found between use and composition, suggesting that garden compositions can be improved without altering their function. While most residents are willing to adapt their gardens, they still face multiple barriers. A comparison with Greater Manchester (UK) further highlights the need for region-specific support. Chapter 6 evaluates the impact of two citizen science initiatives aiming to promote more sustainable lawn management. The initiatives differed in participation barriers, required effort, and level of involvement in research. Using pre- and post-intervention surveys over three years, the study assessed changes in both psychological factors and lawn management practices. Both initiatives increased awareness, reduced personal norms regarding garden neatness, and encouraged behavioural change, resulting in reduced mowing, smaller areas of short-cut lawn, and more species-rich grassland. In summary, this dissertation improved our understanding of the climate change adaptation and mitigation potential of domestic gardens. It not only advances the theoretical understanding of gardens as socio-ecological systems but also offers actionable insights for urban planning and behaviourally informed policy development. Effective strategies must acknowledge the need for a cultural shift in garden management, should be tailored to the spatial context, and should consider socio-economic variations. Building on these findings, the dissertation also outlines practical policy guidance using the 7E-model of social marketing to support maximizing the climate change adaptation potential of garden management.