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Urbanization is often referred to as one of the greatest drivers of economic development as it contributes significantly towards advancement of economic, social and technological sectors thereby providing a boost to employment opportunities and improving the overall standard of living. However, the unprecedented pace of urban development drastically affects man’s relationship with nature as it is associated with alterations in land use patterns which involves clearing up of the green covers and the forested land for construction of roads and other infrastructural development activities. This necessitates the need to keep in check the urban green spaces, as they are responsible for the provision of multiple ecosystem services which are of immense importance for improving the quality of life in urban areas. Kamla Nehru Ridge, the northern subdivision of the Delhi Ridge, is a prominent landscape which lends a unique geological character to the highly urbanized city. The objective of the study is to analyze the causal relationship between residential proximity to such urban green spaces and human well-being using self-reported data on life satisfaction. The relationship thus established is utilized to approximate a monetary equivalent for the secondary use values derived from the Kamla Nehru Ridge. The study aims to answer “How does residential proximity to the Kamla Nehru Ridge impact Human Well-Being in an urban context?”
The study offers an application of the Life Satisfaction approach and is based on primary data gathered through conducting in-person interviews with the help of a questionnaire. An ordered logit regression model is used for the analysis. Results indicate that the individuals were more likely to report higher Life Satisfaction scores if their residential proximity w.r.t the Kamla Nehru Ridge increased. Further analysis revealed that an individual would be willing to give up INR 5,124.27 per month for a 1-kilometre increase in residential proximity w.r.t the Kamla Nehru Ridge. The results highlight the importance of urban green spaces in the lives of city dwellers, especially in developing countries where urbanization is on the rise, and can serve as references to aid the policy makers for better urban planning aiming at a more homogenous distribution of urban green spaces as opposed to the existing allocation.
Key Words: Urban green spaces, Life Satisfaction Approach, Subjective Well-Being, Secondary Use Values, Kamla Nehru Ridge, Delhi.
