Preserving Urban Green Spaces: The Role of Environmental Awareness in the Conservation of Parks in Cedros de Villa, Lima, Peru

Abstract

In Cedros de Villa, Lima, neighbourhood parks provide important spaces for recreation, social interaction, and environmental quality; however, many parks currently show signs of deterioration and receive uneven maintenance. Although residents express concern for these spaces, they do not effectively conserve them, which raises doubts about how much environmental awareness actually contributes to the protection of urban green areas. The study used a qualitative methodology that combined perception analysis, online and interactive surveys, systematic observation of four parks, and six semi-structured interviews with key agents. The observations focused on physical conditions and maintenance, while the surveys and interviews explored levels of awareness, participation, and management limitations. The results show that residents demonstrate a moderate level of environmental awareness, reflected in emotional attachment and small individual care actions. However, weak community organization, a lack of technical guidance, budget restrictions, and reactive municipal management limit effective conservation. These factors reveal a clear knowledge–action gap between residents’ concern for the parks and sustained collective maintenance. The moderate environmental awareness of residents influences their attitudes and intentions to care for the parks, but it is not sufficient to ensure long-term conservation. Sustainable preservation requires combined support from institutions, organized community participation, technical assistance, and participatory, maintenance-oriented park design.