Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jort Perceived importance of and satisfaction with nature observation activities in urban green areas Piret Kuldna a,∗ , Dr Helen Poltimäe a,b , Heidi Tuhkanen a a Stockholm Environment Institute Tallinn Centre, Tallinn, Estonia b University of Tartu, Estonia ARTICLE INFO Keywords: Nature observation Urban green area Importance Satisfaction Tallinn Helsinki ABSTRACT One way to spread awareness about the importance of nature in cities, is to attract more outdoor recreationists to observe and learn about nature in green areas. In order to do so, urban planners need to understand what leads to higher satisfaction with urban nature observation. In this study, we analyse the perceived importance of and satisfaction with nature observation activities and their infuencing factors. The data is compiled from an on-site questionnaire survey with 802 people in four green areas of Tallinn and Helsinki. Age, gender and nationality infuenced how important visitors considered nature observation. Two factors had an efect on the satisfaction with all nature observation activities (watching, listening and learning): age group and the site's natural ap- pearance. Visitors who had read the information boards were more satisfed with learning about the site's nature. Visiting nature trails or boardwalks and visiting the birdwatching tower did not infuence visitor satisfaction with nature observation. Management implications If more people are to be attracted to observe urban nature in green areas, then targeted strategies especially for younger visitors could be considered. Nature trails and birdwatching towers are likely to increase satisfaction only when combined with some way for a visitor to learn, such as information boards. It can be assumed that if people are sa- tisfed with the green area's natural appearance, size, safety and proximity, they are more likely to return to observe nature in the green area. 1. Introduction Urban green areas are important locations for people who live in cities to experience nature. This experience can include intangible elements such as fresh air, sunshine, and being outside, as well more tangible elements like fora and fauna (Irvine, Warber, Devine-Wright, & Gaston, 2013). However, urban residents who experience nature regularly are the exception as opposed to the norm (Cox, Hudson, Shanahan, Fuller, & Gaston, 2017). Lin, Fuller, Bush, Gaston, and Shanahan (2014) suggest that measures to increase peoples’ connection to nature could be more important than measures to increase urban green space availability if we want to encourage visits to these spaces. Nature observation ofers possibilities to both experience nature and learn about it, and is further associated with multiple benefts. According to Kaplan (1984), observing is a level of involvement with nature that can enhance the restorative experience in the urban en- vironment and which includes substantial mental activity. Kaplan points out that even if observation is considered a passive form of in- volvement, opportunities for noticing and observing can also emerge in more active interactions with nature like during a walk. Observing nature has been described as one of the expressions of biophilic values, identifed by Kellert (1993). In the naturalistic value of biophilia, which Kellert regards as the satisfaction derived from direct contact with nature, observation of diversity in nature brings mental benefts, such as enhanced creativity. In the ecologistic-scientifc va- luation of nature, observing nature is related more with increasing knowledge and understanding (Kellert, 1993). Lumber, Richardson, and Shefeld (2017) further describes engagement activities related to the biophilic values in their study investigating pathways to nature con- nectedness. Naturalistic value includes listening to birdsong, going bird- or nature-watching for leisure rather than for scientifc reasons. Examples of the ecologistic-scientifc value are fnding out more about an insect or other small animal, studying nature with some apparatus, a nature survey, etc. (Lumber et al., 2017). Wildlife watching or nature photography have been found to strongly afect environmental behaviour or concern positively (Teisl & O’Brien, 2003). Psychologically, watching wildlife enables relaxation https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2019.100227 Received 19 February 2019; Received in revised form 6 May 2019; Accepted 12 June 2019 ∗ Corresponding author. Stockholm Environment Institute Tallinn Centre, Erika 14, Tallinn, 10416, Estonia. E-mail address: piret.kuldna@sei.org (P. Kuldna). Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism 29 (2020) 100227 2213-0780/ © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. T