Human has been evolving in a natural environment over a long time; thus, he is habitual to adapt it. Green spaces are obligatory landscapes in an urban structure that provide a natural environment and accelerate other life events. In contrast, unplanned urbanization, and conversion from green to grey structures have damaged natural environmental resources. Studies through different angles have highlighted the importance of urban green spaces for human well-being but now need to identify their role according to the potential. The demands of urban green spaces may differ with the change of population size, types of grey structure, urban expansion, the altitude of the place, and geographical location. Therefore, this systematic review aims to analyse the significance of urban green spaces for human well-being. The study opted for a systematic process during the selection and organization of studies for this review. After analysing, 46 studies were finalized with the consensus of three review authors. Accordingly, literature was analysed under the central theme of “Urban Green Spaces for Human Well-being.” Human Well-being was assessed under six sub-themes; physical, psychological, mental, social, subjective, and environmental well-being. The review concluded that urban green spaces are the primary pillar for a sustainable urban place and human well-being due to highly positive and positive correlations. Moreover, the study did not find any demarcation line between green spaces and grey structures according to any specific need. Therefore, the study suggested that the role of urban green spaces for human well-being should be analysed according to their potential and required optimal ratio under different communities’ urban specific environments and social behaviour.

Land use changes significantly threaten urban areas, especially in developing countries such as Pakistan, impacting the thermal environment and comfort of human life. The ongoing transformations in cities such as Lahore, the second largest and rapidly expanding urban center in Pakistan, are alarming due to the removal of green cover and the disruption of ecological structures. In response to these concerns, this study was conducted to assess and predict the implications of observed land use changes in Lahore. The analysis employed three Landsat images from 1990, 2005, and 2020, using ArcGIS and Idrisi Selva software. The results show that the built-up area increased almost 100% (16.44% to 32.48%) during the last three decades. Consequently, a substantial shift from low to medium and medium to high degrees of LST was observed. The projections indicate a further 50% expansion of the built-up area, encroaching upon green cover until 2050, shifting more areas under a higher LST spectrum. So, the study concludes that Lahore is facing imminent threats from rapid land use changes caused by higher land surface temperature in the study area, necessitating prompt attention and decisive action. The study area is at risk of losing its conducive environment and the desirable uniformity of the thermal environment. Therefore, it is recommended that green cover be strategically enhanced to offset the rise in built-up areas and ensure a sustainable thermal environment.

Green structure is one of the major pillars of an urban structure, which accelerates life events by promoting physical activities, mental and psychological relaxation, providing oxygen for breathing and purifying air pollutants. Urban greenness is enriched with the potential to reduce city temperature, offers safe and healthy space for a walk, jogging, and running, and provides a suitable environment for physical and recreational activities along with opportunities for social interaction. Green spaces are well documented for environmental, economic, and social benefits in urban areas that enhance humans’ life quality. The well-being of the urban residents is closely linked with UGSs, but a rapid urban expansion is shrinking urban greenness within and surrounding the cities violating and ignoring environmental guidelines. Therefore, being a rapidly growing and densely populated city, Lahore attracted the study to assess the role of urban green spaces on human well-being. For this purpose, a questionnaire was prepared, and 1050 residents were examined through an online survey. Statistical Regression analyses were performed in SPSS version 25 to investigate the role of UGSs for human well-being. Finally, a structural equation model was developed in which the role of UGSs for human well-being was found to be significant (beta =904, R² = 817) at P < 0.00. The relationships between UGSs and human well-being were found highly significant in Lahore. So, the study concluded that urban green spaces are a key to well-being in Lahore, which needs to protect by admitting their key role for the residents.

Ecosystem services provided by urban parks play a significant role in visitors’ well-being. The provision of these services depends upon the well-designed green spaces built to fulfil the needs of people. As these services are linked with visitors’ well-being, particular emphasis to indicate them is needed. However, minimal documentation is found regarding these valuable services, particularly in the context of Lahore. So, in this study, an effort was made to highlight visitors’ preferences for the available ecosystem services provided by urban parks in Lahore, Pakistan. These ecosystem services are beneficial in enhancing the well-being of people. Fifteen parks in Lahore were selected in this study to highlight the visitors’ preferences in visiting the parks. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted in these parks to collect information. The questionnaire was compiled to record socio-demographical profiles, usage patterns, choices, and visitors’ opinions about the services provided by the parks. A total of 300 responses were recorded to depict the survey findings. The result highlights that 60-80% of visitors like to come to the parks having maximum services regardless of how distant is from their residence. It also reveals that large-sized parks with maximum facilities attract more visitors than small and medium-sized parks. As in these parks, people only from neighbouring areas visit due to their accessibility. The findings will be helpful for the managers and planners of the urban park to improve the ecosystem services for the well-being of people. It will also indicate the choices of people based on that information, the status of parks can be improved, and new parks can be developed to meet the visitors’ needs.

COMMENTS TO THE AUTHORS AND EDITORS In general, the manuscript is found good and impressive; it may be considered for publication by addressing a few points, which are given below: • The given abstract does not reflect the whole of its co...