| People |
| Jilong Zhong, M.Sc.
B.Sc. Natural Resources Conservation, University of British Colombia (2024) Canada; B.Sc. Ecology, Fujian Agricultural and Forestry University (2024), China; M.Sc. Renewable Resources, McGill University (2026). Email: jilong.zhong@mail.mcgill.ca
Interests: Conflict Transformation, Stakeholders Analysis, Participatory Scenario Planning, Urban Green Space management
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MSc. Thesis:
PLURAL VALUES OF NATURE AND STAKEHOLDER CONFLICTS IN URBAN FOREST GREEN SPACES: A CASE STUDY OF THE MORGAN ARBORETUM
Abstract
Urban forest greenspaces are multifunctional spaces that provide a wide range of ecological, social, and cultural benefits. However, different stakeholders hold plural values of nature, leading to varying understandings and expectations regarding the functions, uses, and management goals of urban forest greenspaces. These differences can cause conflicts in how greenspaces are used and managed. This study employs a mixed-methods research design, combining semi-structured interviews and an online survey to examine the plural values of nature and the social value conflicts occurring among stakeholders in the Morgan Arboretum, an urban forest greenspace located in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Montreal, Canada. The results suggest that stakeholders’ socio-demographic backgrounds and experiential traits influence their reasons for visiting the Arboretum and their value preferences. Viewed through the Life Framework of Values, some specific values are shared across stakeholders, while others are emphasized differently across life frames. These differences shape how stakeholders understand the roles of greenspaces and human-nature relationships, which can in turn lead to different practices in everyday use and management. The study also finds that disruptive user behaviours and differing values can lead to conflict in the forest greenspace, with different forms of conflict found to coexist and even transform from one form to another. Based on these findings, this research identifies that understanding the plural values of nature is crucial for comprehending stakeholder perspectives and the mechanisms behind conflict emergence in urban forest greenspaces. This understanding can assist managers in developing more effective and targeted strategies to mitigate latent conflicts among stakeholders and improve greenspace management outcomes.
Awards and Scholarships:
Graduate Excellence Fellowships (2024-2026)
Project Publications:
Still to come
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