Evaluation of effects of ecological parks on the urban environment (Case Study: Shahmanzar Hafeshjan Shahrekord)

Mohsenpour Qahfarokhi, Fatemeh; Fanni, Zohreh

Evaluation of effects of ecological parks on the urban environment (Case Study: Shahmanzar Hafeshjan Shahrekord)

Document Type : Article extracted from dissertations

Authors

Fatemeh Mohsenpour Qahfarokhi ¹ ^¶

Zohreh Fanni ² ^¶

¹ M.Sc. Geography and Urban Planning, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

² Professor, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Background and Objective: Environmental sustainability is a cornerstone of the United Nations’ agenda for achieving sustainable urban development. Understanding the complex interplay between urban ecosystems and the natural environment is crucial for addressing contemporary urban environmental challenges. Rooted in ecological principles, the establishment of eco-parks plays a fundamental role in sustainable urban development by aiming to support the spiritual needs of citizens, protect biodiversity, and minimize human intervention in natural habitats. These spaces are also essential for enhancing urban environmental quality and fostering human-nature interaction. This study aims to identify the factors through which the Shahmanzar Eco-park influences the environment of Hafshejan city.
Methodology: This applied research employed a mixed-methods approach, utilizing library and documentary studies, field surveys, and interviews. The statistical population consisted of the residents of Hafshejan, from which a sample of 380 citizens was selected using random sampling. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software, employing statistical tests including the t-test and multiple regression analysis.
Results and Findings: The evaluation results indicate that the Shahmanzar Eco-park has had the highest impact on the urban environment of Hafshejan in the “Environmental Index” (mean = 3.20) and the lowest impact in the “Economic Services Index” (mean = 1.80). Furthermore, the regression analysis revealed that the Environmental Index, with a coefficient of 0.029, has the most significant impact on the environmental quality and urban sustainability of Hafshejan.

Keywords

Eco-park

Environment

Shah Manzar Hafeshjan

Shahrekord

Subjects

Urban Planning

Akbari Riyabi,M and Soflae,F . (2023). Analyzing and reviewing the City Development Strategic plan (CDS) of Kazerun with the approach of sustainable urban development. Journal of Sustainable Urban & Regional Development Studies (JSURDS), 3(4), 1-20. https://www.srds.ir/article_164103.html?lang=en[in Persian].

Alijani, B. (2021). Geography and the paradigm of sustainable development. Spatial Analysis of Environmental Hazards, 8(3), 1–16. [in Persian].2.Amini, N., Ziyabakhsh, N., & Mofidi Shemirani, S. M. (2015). Eco-park: A suitable strategy for achieving sustainable development. Proceedings of the New Achievements in Civil Engineering, Architecture, Environment and Urban Management, Tehran[in Persian].

Arian kian,M and Mirkatouli,J . (2021). Investigating the Effect of Attendance and Sense of Satisfaction of Residential Residents with Social Security in Gorgan Settlements. Journal of Sustainable Urban & Regional Development Studies (JSURDS), 1(2), 19-34. https://www.srds.ir/article_127550.html?lang=en[in Persian].

Bakhshi,A , Alizadeh fard,A and Rasouli,S H . (2022). Measuring Livability Indicators in Iranian Cities (Case Study: City of Babol). Journal of Sustainable Urban & Regional Development Studies (JSURDS), 3(2), 24-40. https://www.srds.ir/article_155560.html?lang=en[in Persian].

Barahooee,A , Ebrahimzaheh Asmin,H and Asadi Sarvestani,K . (2021). A Sociological Study of the Effect of Marginalization on Urban Management (Case Study: Karimabad Region in Zahedan City). Journal of Sustainable Urban & Regional Development Studies (JSURDS), 2(2), 25-44. https://www.srds.ir/article_134486.html?lang=en[in Persian].

Bastami Joe,M and Afzali,S F . (2026). Evaluating human comfort conditions based on bioclimatic indicators(Case study: Si Sakht tourist city). Journal of Sustainable Urban & Regional Development Studies (JSURDS), 6(4), 114-126. https://www.srds.ir/article_219757.html?lang=en[in Persian].

Bazdar, M., & Maghsoudi Tilaki, M. J. (2016). Evaluation of the environmental status of eco-park (Case study: Gorgan). Second International Conference on Architecture, Civil Engineering and Urban Planning at the Beginning of the Third Millennium. [in Persian].

Chin, M., Lee, C., & Woon, K. (2023). Developing circular waste management strategies based on a waste eco-park concept: A multi-objective optimization with environmental, economic, and social trade-off. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry, 62(41), 16827–16840.

Fakhrian, P., Haghjoo, A., Ebrahimi Asl, H., & Shaghaghi, S. (2025). Explaining landscape architecture indices affecting the qualitative improvement of the visual environment in Tabriz metropolitan parks from ecological, cultural, and environmental sustainability perspectives. Journal of Art and Architecture in Urbanism, 3(1), 1–24. [in Persian].

Griffin, K., & McKinley, T. (2017). Human Development (G. R. Khajeh Pour Nadavani, Trans.). Tehran: Nashr-e Ruz. [in Persian]

Hanaee, T., SeyedAlhosseini, S. M., & Khalili, E. (2022). Prioritizing sustainable development components in eco-park planning (Case study: Koh-Park Mashhad). Sustainability, Development and Environment, 3(1), 79–94. [in Persian].

Hashemi, S. M. (2021). Developing sustainable criteria and location modeling of eco-parks with the Integrated Capability Assessment (ICA) paradigm in Tehran’s urban environment. Quarterly Journal of Geography and Urban-Regional Planning, 11(38), 267–286. [in Persian].

Henderson, K., & Loreau, M. (2023). A model of Sustainable Development Goals: Challenges and opportunities in promoting human well-being and environmental sustainability. Ecological Modelling.

Jabari Zadehgan,A R , Pourzarzgar,M R and Norouz Borazjani,V . (2022). Investigating Infrastructures and Effective Solutions in the Formation and Development of Urban Green Transportation. Journal of Sustainable Urban & Regional Development Studies (JSURDS), 3(2), 156-168. https://www.srds.ir/article_156244.html?lang=en[in Persian].

Mahmoudzadeh, H., Vaezi, M., Rostami, R., & Bakouei, M. (2019). Analyzing the ecological status of urban parks with an emphasis on forest parks using GIS (Case study: Tabriz). Journal of Applied Researches in Geographical Sciences, 22(65), 4–42. [in Persian].

Manhoubi, N. (2016). An attitude towards ecology in the direction of realizing a sustainable city. Second International Conference on Research in Civil Engineering, Architecture, Urban Planning and Sustainable Environment. [in Persian].

Mohseni, S., & Rezaei, M. (2023). Realization of ecological urban design in historical contexts based on local-global values (Case study: Urban eco-park in Sanglaj neighborhood of Tehran). Quarterly Journal of Space and Place Studies, 2(1), 81–102[in Persian].

Movahed, S., Laghaei, H., & Habib, F. (2020). Developing eco-park design criteria. Hoviat-e-Shahr, 14(44), 89–98. [in Persian].

Naghdi, A. (2013). Challenges of sustainable development. Tehran: University of Tehran Press. [in Persian].

Nguyen, M. H., & Jones, T. E. (2022). Building eco-surplus culture among urban residents as a novel strategy to improve finance for conservation in protected areas. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 9, 426.

Okasha, A., & Mekkawy, A. (2021). Participatory eco-landscape design: The case of NRIAG eco-park in Helwan, Egypt. Journal of Engineering and Applied Science, 68, 12.

Pourbehi, T., Jafari-Nia, G., & Shamsoddini, A. (2022). Investigating the impact of social capital on urban sustainable development in Bushehr. Journal of Regional Geography and Planning, 12(47), 200–217. (in Persian)

Qureshi, S., Haase, D., & Coles, R. (2014). The theorized urban gradient (TUG) method: A conceptual framework for socio-ecological sampling in complex urban agglomerations. Ecological Indicators, 36, 100–110.

Rafa, N., Nuzhat, S., Uddin, S. M., Gupta, M., & Rakshit, R. (2021). [Insert Title]. Sustainability, 13(21), 12190.

Razaghyan, F., & Aghajani, H. (2023). An analysis of deficiencies and spatial distribution of urban parks in Mashhad with the aim of improving green spaces. Geography of Drylands, 14(51), 114–135. [in Persian].

Roshani, A., Parak, F., & Abdul-Razzaq, A. (2024). Evaluation of the importance of environmental strategies in urban plans (Case study: Districts 1 and 2 of Baghdad). Journal of Geography and Human Relations. [in Persian].

Rosso, F., Pioppi, B., & Pisello, A. L. (2022). Pocket parks for human-centered urban climate change resilience: Microclimate field tests and multi-domain comfort analysis through portable sensing techniques and citizens’ science. Energy and Buildings.

Saraskanrood, S., Faal Naziri, M., & Piroozi, E. (2020). Eco-park location analysis in central counties of Ardabil province using multi-criteria analysis models. Applied Ecology, 9(1), 61–78. [in Persian].

Torres Navas, N., Musa Wasil, W., Malave Llamas, L., & Morales Agrinzoni, R. (2021). Development of eco-park in flood prone areas using green technologies. International Journal of Human Capital in Urban Management.

Vafaei, A. (2022). Environmental sustainable development with a strategic planning approach (Case study: Kashan city). Human Settlements Planning Studies, 17(3), 691–708. [in Persian].

Yazdi, H., & Barzegar, S. (2011). Investigation of economic valuation methods for urban environmental issues. First Conference of Urban Economics of Iran. [in Persian].