Benefits and Support of Urban Horticulture, Its Relationship with the Environment, and Needs and Trends in Studies in Cities of Šibenik and Split (Croatia), Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina), and Skopje (North Macedonia)
Journal
Sustainability
Date Issued
2025-10-24
Author(s)
Dorbić, Boris
Kajtaz, Esved
Bogevska, Zvezda
Davitkovska, Margarita
Mihanović, Damir
Španjol, Željko
Kajtaz, Esmera
Hasanbegović Sejfić, Jasna
Bjeliš, Mario
Gančević, Pavao
Gugić, Josip
DOI
10.3390/su17219473
Abstract
Urban horticulture as a segment of urban agriculture can take various forms: home gardens, allotment farming, community gardens, community-supported agriculture, vertical
farming, etc. After the COVID-19 pandemic in Croatia and neighboring countries, growing
horticultural plants in urban and suburban areas became increasingly popular. The aim of
the study was to investigate citizens’ attitudes towards the benefits and support of urban
horticulture, its relationship to the environment, and needs and relevance in studies in the
cities of Šibenik, Split, Mostar and Skopje. The research methods used for the purpose of
this study were theoretical analysis method, survey and analytical descriptive and statistical method. The research was conducted online during the first half of 2024 on a sample of
506 respondents. The main goal of the paper was to examine the views of citizens on urban
horticulture. With specific objectives, the views of citizens were examined on the benefits
of urban horticulture, the relationship between urban horticulture and the environment,
urban horticulture and plant protection, support for urban horticulture, and the needs and
trends of urban horticulture. The results showed that citizens are mostly positive
towards growing horticultural plants in urban and suburban areas without pollution. In
urban horticulture, respondents prefer using ecological principles and products. Female
respondents expressed more positive attitudes towards the fashionability and need for
urban horticulture. Respondents from Skopje showed the most positive attitudes towards
the benefits of urban horticulture and its relationship to the environment. Also, there is no
statistically significant difference in attitudes towards urban horticulture with regard to the location of residence. The research contributes to the trend of development and promotion
of urban horticulture with a special emphasis on the importance of environmental preservation. It also contributes to the development of an interdisciplinary method that connects
natural and social sciences, and develops an empirical approach that can improve urban
culture with the aim of preserving the environment.
farming, etc. After the COVID-19 pandemic in Croatia and neighboring countries, growing
horticultural plants in urban and suburban areas became increasingly popular. The aim of
the study was to investigate citizens’ attitudes towards the benefits and support of urban
horticulture, its relationship to the environment, and needs and relevance in studies in the
cities of Šibenik, Split, Mostar and Skopje. The research methods used for the purpose of
this study were theoretical analysis method, survey and analytical descriptive and statistical method. The research was conducted online during the first half of 2024 on a sample of
506 respondents. The main goal of the paper was to examine the views of citizens on urban
horticulture. With specific objectives, the views of citizens were examined on the benefits
of urban horticulture, the relationship between urban horticulture and the environment,
urban horticulture and plant protection, support for urban horticulture, and the needs and
trends of urban horticulture. The results showed that citizens are mostly positive
towards growing horticultural plants in urban and suburban areas without pollution. In
urban horticulture, respondents prefer using ecological principles and products. Female
respondents expressed more positive attitudes towards the fashionability and need for
urban horticulture. Respondents from Skopje showed the most positive attitudes towards
the benefits of urban horticulture and its relationship to the environment. Also, there is no
statistically significant difference in attitudes towards urban horticulture with regard to the location of residence. The research contributes to the trend of development and promotion
of urban horticulture with a special emphasis on the importance of environmental preservation. It also contributes to the development of an interdisciplinary method that connects
natural and social sciences, and develops an empirical approach that can improve urban
culture with the aim of preserving the environment.
Subjects
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