Recognize and Prioritize Cultural Ecosystem Services Based on Users' Perceptions in Urban Green Spaces (Case Study of Tehran Urban Parks)

Cultural Ecosystem Services (CES) are intangible benefits of nature. The Studies about CES are limited in Iran. The current research tries to determine some CES factors in urban green spaces (UGS) with a collaborative approach. The research purpose is practical. It was done by the descriptive-analytical method. For CES evaluation, 33 items were compiled with documentary studies to be measured by a survey method. The statistical population includes some visitors to Taleghani, Mellat, Ab-o-Atash and, Bagh-eIrani parks in Tehran. According to the number of items, the size of the samples was estimated at 400 people, and data was collected by using the available sampling method. Validity has been done by Factor Analysis and validation by calculating Cronbach's alpha test. The results of the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin test (0.87) confirmed the adequacy of sample size and Bartlett’s Test of Sphericity confirmed the ability to factorize data. The principal component analysis with varimax rotation showed that 7 factors in total explained 75.5% of the total variance of the items. Values of cultural heritage, spirituality, awareness, recreation, social relations, sense of place, and inspiration, formed the factors of CES. (3157/80) 2χ = 378, = df, p = 0.005). Friedman's test was used for factor ranking. The results showed that recreation is the most and sense of place is the least valuable of the park’s CES. In this way, people have understood parks as suitable places for recreation and social activities, but parks do not create a suitable ground for people's spiritual connection with nature.