Urban green spaces carry a number of non market or intangible benefits, which make a city healthy and perfect place to live in. Recreation and aesthetic benefits are among such ecosystem services being generated by these resources. Unfortunately studies involving quantification and valuing these benefits are lacking in most of the developing countries including India. With the result, these assets are not given as much importance as they deserve in a city development plan. The article presents a brief summary of the research study carried out in Chandigarh city during 2002–04 for estimating recreational use value of city's urban green spaces. The results can prove useful for urban policy makers, planners and academics including landscaping architects, foresters, ecologists and environmental economists.
Non market benefits, recreational and amenity value, contingent valuation method, travel cost method, consumer surplus, willingness to pay, residents, tourists
