Public versus private: Juxtaposing urban allotment gardens as multifunctional Nature-based Solutions. Insights from Seville

Many European countries witness growing interest in allotment gardening. Thus, private allotment gardens (AGs) have been created in some countries, including Spain. As a result, there are places where non-consumptive and commodified allotment gardens coexist. The paper presents an in-depth comparison of public and private AGs through the lens of the nature-based solutions (NBS) concept. First, we assess the importance that gardeners attribute to the spectrum of environmental and socio-economic impacts provided by both types of AGs; we identify differences and similarities in their development and management, and assess the demographic and socioeconomic profile of gardeners. Subsequently, we discuss gardeners' and other stakeholders' opinions on both types of AGs and explore the roles that they can play as solutions for urban policy challenges. Our results show that both types of AGs are nature-based solutions with particularly positive impacts on the health and wellbeing of their users. These gardens do not compete but complement each other, fostered by their role as multifunctional nature-based solutions. Moreover, the option of cultivating a private or a public AG seems to be more linked to the freedom of cultivation and the freedom of access rather than economic reasons. We conclude that in the current complex scenario, public and private AGs must have territorial, legal and institutional frameworks within all urban policies that explore NBS.

Automated summary

This paper compares public and private allotment gardens in terms of the importance attributed by gardeners, environmental and socioeconomic impacts, development and management differences, and demographic profiles. Both types of AGs are nature-based solutions with positive impacts on users' health and wellbeing, and their coexistence is fostered by their multifunctionality. The choice between private and public AGs seems to be more related to freedom of cultivation and access rather than economic reasons, highlighting the need for territorial, legal, and institutional frameworks within urban policies exploring NBS.