Understanding and Enhancing Cultural Ecosystem Services Supply in Historic Gardens for Sustainable Heritage Management: Lessons from Two Sites in Delhi

Abstract

Abstract: Historic gardens are a nation’s precious cultural and natural heritage, having both tangible and intangible values. Across the world, many historic gardens have been reduced to mere public parks or tourist attractions, facing challenges in meeting the needs of contemporary society. This study applies the Cultural Ecosystem Services (CES) framework to examine how spatial attributes, heritage features, and management approaches in historic gardens contribute to community well-being and sustainable heritage management. Using two emblematic sites in New Delhi—Lodi Garden, a historically layered urban park informally embedded in residents’ daily lives, and Sunder Nursery, a benchmark model of heritage-led regeneration—this research compares their spatial qualities, characteristic features, and institutional arrangements that influence CES delivery. The analysis reveals that a combination of well-preserved heritage features, thematic landscapes, biodiversity zones, recreational amenities, and supporting infrastructure enables historic gardens to provide a wide spectrum of CES, including recreational, aesthetic, educational, social, spiritual, and heritage-related benefits. The study contributes to the existing body of literature on CES and heritage landscapes while offering practical insights for heritage managers and urban planners seeking to integrate CES-based strategies into the conservation and management of historic gardens.