Urban forests are crucial for city dwellers’ wellbeing, and their importance during the COVID-19 pandemic has been emphasized. This study near Bonn, Germany, used automated visitor counting and on-site interviews to analyze visit patterns and visitor attitudes. Results showed that forest visitation doubled during the lockdown, with changes in visit patterns.
Forests were associated with tranquility, recreation, and positive attitudes towards management. However, novel uses of forests for social interaction emerged during the lockdown. Effective forest management is crucial to meet changing needs during crises like COVID-19, supporting urban dwellers’ wellbeing.
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This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program under Grant Agreement 821242.
