Title: Urban agriculture and sustainable urban systems: a benefits assessment of the garden movement in Havana, Cuba

Authors: Patrick Henn, John Henning

Addresses: Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Macdonald Campus, McGill University, 21, 111, Lakeshore Road, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, H9X 3V9, Canada. Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Macdonald Campus, McGill University, 21,111, Lakeshore Road, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, H9X 3V9, Canada

Abstract: The sustainability of urban systems is at the forefront of many national environmental agendas, both in developing and developed countries. Urban agriculture (UA) is a concept that has captured the imagination of a growing number of environmentalists, poverty activists and urban planners alike, with its capacity to deal with a number of environmental and social pressures that arise in urban areas. Despite the significant market and non-market benefits of this activity, UA is still marginalised in urban planning and considered inconsistent with the idea of a modern city. This paper argues that in order to make optimal decisions on the role of UA in urban sustainability, an extended assessment of the total economic value of UA, encompassing social, environmental and economic benefits, must be made. Results from a contingent valuation study on the value of popular gardens in Havana are presented.

Keywords: sustainable city; urban agriculture; Cuba; contingent valuation method.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2002.000729

International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development, 2002 Vol.1 No.3, pp.202-209

Published online: 17 Jul 2003 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article