ABSTRACT

This article explores multilevel governance networking and innovation to better understand how nature-based public health can be promoted at a grassroot level within an urban context. Hence, the leading research question examines the extent of networking and collaboration within state and municipal policymaking and the implementation of socially inclusive nature-based activities among urban youths conducted by local volunteer organisations. Multilevel networking and collaboration represent an analytical alternative to bottom-up and top-down strategies, which dominate the socio-political policies of outdoor studies in several countries. The exploration draws on empirical research conducted in 2020 based on a qualitative design. A website review was carried out to analyse facilitated nature-based health innovations embracing educational activities, leadership, and organisation run by local volunteer organisations targeting youth aged 6–19 across Oslo, Norway’s capital. The investigation was substantiated by twenty-eight interviews with leaders of volunteer organisations and primary healthcare coordinators in five of Oslo’s fifteen city districts, exploring their organisational experiences and reflections on nature-based innovations as a measure to promote health. The governance approach revealed several paradoxes and ambiguities in policy and practice. For example, there is a gap between the policy vision and available resources. There is also a need to understand better the complex networks and collaboration of public agencies and dedicated volunteers, their organisations, and interests. Furthermore, the continuous professionalisation of the voluntary sector and its significance in building a governance infrastructure that increases the capability of ongoing nature-based activity innovations need to be developed to meet policy goals and young people’s needs and interests. Social inequalities were reported among those participating in nature-based activities and those who were not engaged. This pattern follows the well-documented spatial distribution of socioeconomic disparities.

摘要

本文探讨了多层次治理网络和创新，以更好地了解如何在城市背景下的基层促进基于自然的公共卫生。因此，主要的研究问题是检查州和市决策中的网络和协作程度，以及当地志愿者组织在城市青年中开展的社会包容性自然活动的实施情况. 多层次网络和协作代表了自下而上和自上而下战略的分析替代方案，这些战略在多个国家主导着户外研究的社会政治政策。该探索借鉴了 2020 年基于定性设计进行的实证研究。开展了一项网站审查，以分析促进的基于自然的健康创新，包括教育活动、领导力和由当地志愿者组织开展的针对挪威首都奥斯陆 6-19 岁青年的组织。对奥斯陆 15 个市区中的 5 个地区的志愿者组织领导人和初级保健协调员进行了 28 次访谈，证实了这项调查，探讨了他们的组织经验和对基于自然的创新作为促进健康的措施的思考。治理方法揭示了政策和实践中的一些矛盾和模糊之处。例如，政策愿景与可用资源之间存在差距。还需要更好地了解公共机构和专门志愿者、他们的组织和利益的复杂网络和协作。此外，需要发展志愿部门的持续专业化及其在建设治理基础设施方面的重要性，以提高正在进行的基于自然的活动创新的能力，以满足政策目标和年轻人的需求和兴趣。据报道，参加基于自然的活动的人和没有参加的人之间存在社会不平等。这种模式遵循有据可查的社会经济差异的空间分布。