scholarly journals The possibility to reconcile the conflict between the preservation of synanthropic vegetation and the development of cities

2012 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 235-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ewa Trzaskowska
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Land Development ◽  
Urban Ecosystem ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Construction Process ◽  
Synanthropic Vegetation ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
Municipal Management ◽  
Spontaneous Vegetation ◽  
Synanthropic Flora

The impoverishment of synanthropic vegetation has been observed in Polish cities for at least half a century. It relates to both the decrease in the area of its occurrence and reduction in species diversity. This is associated with changes in land development, a faster construction process, and an increasingly smaller area of wasteland as well as with the fact that agricultural land and farm buildings are found in cities less and less frequently. Municipal management has been modernised and rubbish, soil or rubble dumps are encountered less often. Besides, the aesthetics adopted by modern man does not allow for the existence of spontaneous vegetation, since in an ordered world such great freedom and liberty are not accepted. Nevertheless, synanthropic flora is one of elements of greenery co-creating a unique urban ecosystem. It increases species richness, improves the climate, and contributes to a reduction in pollution and noise. The present paper highlights difficulties related to the preservation of this flora in cities, and a concept is presented how to introduce it into urban green spaces. Different forms of green spaces are presented in the case of which it is possible to use synanthropic plants, e.g.: ecological lawns and flower meadows, extensive roof gardens, and ecological parks.

scholarly journals Assessing the Ecosystem Services of Various Types of Urban Green Spaces Based on i-Tree Eco

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 1630 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peihao Song ◽  
Gunwoo Kim ◽  
Audrey Mayer ◽  
Ruizhen He ◽  
Guohang Tian
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Urban Ecosystem ◽  
Space Structure ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Aerial Images ◽  
Ecological Benefits ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
Service Productivity ◽  
Air Quality Improvement

Urban green spaces play a crucial role in maintaining urban ecosystem sustainability by providing numerous ecosystem services. How to quantify and evaluate the ecological benefits and services of urban green spaces remains a hot topic currently, while the evaluation is barely applied or implemented in urban design and planning. In this study, super-high-resolution aerial images were used to acquire the spatial distribution of urban green spaces; a modified pre-stratified random sampling method was applied to obtain the vegetation information of the four types of urban green spaces in Luohe, a common plain city in China; and i-Tree Eco model was further used to assess the vegetation structure and various ecosystem services including air quality improvement, rainfall interception, carbon storage, and sequestration provided by four types of urban green spaces. The modeling results reveal that there were about 1,006,251 trees in this area. In 2013, all the trees in these green spaces could store about 54,329 t of carbon, sequester about 4973 t of gross carbon, remove 92 t of air pollutants, and avoid 122,637 m3 of runoff. The study illustrates an innovative method to reveal different types of urban green spaces with distinct ecosystem service productivity capacity to better understand their various roles in regulating the urban environment. The results could be used to assist urban planners and policymakers to optimize urban green space structure and composition to maximize ecosystem services provision.

scholarly journals The Impact of Decommissioning Cemeteries on the Urban Ecosystem

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 9303
Author(s):  
Anna Myślińska ◽  
Jakub Szczepański ◽  
Witold Dłubakowski
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Urban Ecosystem ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
City Development ◽  
Sustainable City ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
Two Cities ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Impact

The decommissioning of cemeteries noticeably transforms the urban fabric. The purpose of this article was to determine what impact the decommissioning of cemeteries has on the urban ecosystem. For this purpose, it was necessary to assess the value of cemeteries within the urban ecosystem. Cemeteries are classified as urban green spaces, and their value as preservers of flora and fauna in local ecosystems has been proven. However, numerous decaying bodies in one place could have adverse effects on the environment. In order to assess the impact of transforming cemetery areas for other uses in the context of sustainable city development, it is necessary to define what these other functions might be. This article presents the main reasons for decommissioning cemeteries and links them with subsequent land use. The history of cemetery locations in five major Polish cities was analyzed to determine the extent to which cemeteries were decommissioned. In the two cities with the highest number of decommissioned cemeteries, further research was carried out in order to establish the typical land use of these former cemeteries, whether this usage is related to the size or type of the former cemetery, and whether change in land use is an advantage or a disadvantage for the urban ecosystem.

scholarly journals Urban Ecosystem services on the local level: Urban green spaces as providers

2013 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jürgen Breuste ◽  
Johanna Schnellinger ◽  
Salman Qureshi ◽  
Anna Faggi
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Green Space ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Urban Ecosystem ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Basic Unit ◽  
Urban Landscapes ◽  
Urban Ecosystem Services ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces

AbstractBreuste J., Schnellinger J., Qureshi S., Faggi A.: Urban ecosystem services on the local level: Urban green spaces as providers. Ekologia (Bratislava), Vol. 32, No. 3, p. 209-304, 2013. Ecosystem services are provided at different spatial and service/functional scales. The local level is the basic unit for ecosystem services, especially when it comes to the human dimension of urban landscapes. These services are provided by green elements (patches) or basic complex ecosystems (green areas) which differ from their neighbourhoods through their structures and functions. This study reviews the generally available knowledge on urban green functions and services at the site level and explains them by using own studies in five different cities in three different continents related to distinct ecosystem services. This allows the development of a methodology to evaluate and compare ecosystem services at the site level. The methodology is based at two levels, patch and green space, and includes the relationship with the surrounding green and built-up space. Different urban green space types are characterized by their internal structures of vegetation, size, shape and location in relation to at least a semi-quantitative scaling of their urban ecosystem services. The evaluated urban green spaces are public urban green spaces. The urban ecosystem services assessed include climate regulation, biodiversity, nature experience, recreation and health. The actual urban challenges, such as land use change, adaptation to climate change, demographic change and urban cultural diversity, demand a systematic and very concrete monitoring of urban ecosystem services at the site level.

scholarly journals Establishment of a Geographic Information System-Based Algorithm to Analyze Suitable Locations for Green Roofs and Roadside Trees

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (16) ◽  
pp. 7368
Author(s):  
Heeju Kim ◽  
Kyushik Oh ◽  
Dongwoo Lee
Keyword(s):  
Information System ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Geographic Information System ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Green Roofs ◽  
Urban Ecosystem ◽  
Geographic Information ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Urban Green Spaces

Urban green spaces offer various ecosystem services such as those for controlling the urban microclimate, improving water circulation, and providing leisure and recreation opportunities. However, it is almost impossible to create new, large green spaces in cities where urbanization has been long underway. Consequently, small-scale green spaces such as green roofs and roadside trees are gaining attention as features that can increase the effects of ecosystem services. Although the area of individual buildings in urban areas is relatively small, the sum of building rooftop areas account for a large portion of urban areas. Moreover, there are areas widely available throughout cities where street trees could be planted. However, this requires large amounts of accurate databases (DBs) and long-term spatial analyses to identify specific locations suitable for small-scale green facilities on a citywide scale using a geographic information system (GIS). Consequently, in-depth research on this topic has been insufficient. Thus, this study presents an algorithm to analyze locations where green roofs and roadside trees could be introduced based on GIS spatial analysis and verifies the effectiveness of the algorithm built for the city of Seoul. In addition, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling is performed to analyze the temperature reduction effect, the representative function of ecosystem control services that can be brought about by the potential green spaces. The results show that rooftop greening in study areas is possible in 311,793 of 742,770 buildings. The rooftop floor area of buildings that can apply rooftop greening is 33,288,745 m2, which is about 50% of the total area of the rooftop in Seoul. It was found that roadside trees could be planted on a sidewalk with an extension length of 872,725 m and an area of 838,864 m2. A total of 145,366 trees can be planted in the study area. In addition, it was shown that the introduction of green roofs reduced temperatures by 0.13 °C to 0.14 °C and roadside trees reduced temperatures by 0.14 °C to 0.6 °C. With the growing need to improve urban ecosystem services as a result of rapid climate change, the algorithm developed in this study can be utilized to create spatial policies that expand and manage urban green spaces and thereby contribute to the improvement of urban ecosystem services.

Parks are Critical Urban Infrastructure: Perception and Use of Urban Green Spaces in NYC During COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bianca Lopez ◽  
Christopher Kennedy ◽  
Timon McPhearson
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Urban Infrastructure ◽  
Urban Ecosystem ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Funding Policy ◽  
Urban Centers ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
The Impact

Urban green spaces provide a range of environmental and health benefits, which may become even more critical during times of crisis such as the current COVID-19 pandemic. However, with a radical shift in mobility, additional concerns over safety, and access temporarily restricted during the implementation of social distancing policies, the experience and use of urban green spaces may be reduced. This is particularly concerning for densely populated cities like New York, considered the first U.S. epicenter or vanguard of the outbreak. To better understand the impact of COVID-19 on the perception and use of urban green spaces, we conducted a social survey during the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic in New York City (May 13 - June 15, 2020). The results of the survey show respondents continued to use urban green spaces during the pandemic and consider them to be more important for mental and physical health than before the pandemic began. However, the study revealed a pattern of concerns residents have about green space accessibility and safety, and found key differences between the concerns and needs of different populations, suggesting a crucial role for inclusive decision-making, support for additional management strategies, and urban ecosystem governance that reflect the differential values, needs and concerns of communities across the City. As urban centers face looming budget cuts and reduced capacity, this study provides some empirical evidence to illustrate the value of urban green spaces as critical urban infrastructure, and may have implications for funding, policy, and management, of urban green spaces in NYC, with potential applications to other cities, particularly during times of crisis.

scholarly journals Parks are Critical Urban Infrastructure: Perception and Use of Urban Green Spaces in NYC During COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bianca Lopez ◽  
Christopher Kennedy ◽  
Timon McPhearson
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Urban Infrastructure ◽  
Urban Ecosystem ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Funding Policy ◽  
Urban Centers ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
The Impact

Urban green spaces provide a range of environmental and health benefits, which may become even more critical during times of crisis such as the current COVID-19 pandemic. However, with a radical shift in mobility, additional concerns over safety, and access temporarily restricted during the implementation of social distancing policies, the experience and use of urban green spaces may be reduced. This is particularly concerning for densely populated cities like New York, considered the first U.S. epicenter or vanguard of the outbreak. To better understand the impact of COVID-19 on the perception and use of urban green spaces, we conducted a social survey during the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic in New York City (May 13 - June 15, 2020). The results of the survey show respondents continued to use urban green spaces during the pandemic and consider them to be more important for mental and physical health than before the pandemic began. However, the study revealed a pattern of concerns residents have about green space accessibility and safety, and found key differences between the concerns and needs of different populations, suggesting a crucial role for inclusive decision-making, support for additional management strategies, and urban ecosystem governance that reflect the differential values, needs and concerns of communities across the City. As urban centers face looming budget cuts and reduced capacity, this study provides some empirical evidence to illustrate the value of urban green spaces as critical urban infrastructure, and may have implications for funding, policy, and management, of urban green spaces in NYC, with potential applications to other cities, particularly during times of crisis.

scholarly journals Using Remote Sensing in Monitoring the Urban Green Spaces: A Case Study in Qorveh, Iran

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-15
Author(s):  
Aynaz Lotfata
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Green Space ◽  
Land Development ◽  
Urban Land ◽  
Urban Land Use ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Space Distribution ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces

Urban green spaces are important to the physical activity, mental wellbeing, and health of urban residents. In medium-sized cities in Iran, urban green spaces have been ignored during the past decades. In this study, remote sensing and geographic information system was used to investigate the green space distribution in the built-up areas. Accordingly, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and normalized difference built-up index (NDBI) were used to estimate urban green spaces distribution within the urban landscapes to measure the urban land use effect. The geospatial analysis results presented a lack of green spaces in built-up areas. Also, 16.8% of the total area of Qorveh city is considered as a dysfunctional urban fabric that 39.4% of the city’s population live in this area. This study highlighted the usage of green space index with geospatial analyses in illustrating the urban green spaces’ importance for planning. For the future urban land development scenarios, this approach could be used linking with regional planning approaches.

scholarly journals Planning of Urban Green Spaces: An Ecological Perspective on Human Benefits

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 105
Author(s):  
Teodoro Semeraro ◽  
Aurelia Scarano ◽  
Riccardo Buccolieri ◽  
Angelo Santino ◽  
Eeva Aarrevaara
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Urban Space ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Urban Ecosystem ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Urban Context ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Urban Ecosystem Services ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces

In the context of urban land-use growth and the consequent impacts on the environment, green spaces provide ecosystem services for human health. The ecosystem services concept synthesises human–environmental interactions through a series of combined components of biodiversity and abiotic elements, linking ecological processes and functions. The concept of green infrastructure (GI) in the urban context emphasises the quality and quantity of urban and peri-urban green spaces and natural areas. In dense urban contexts, the applications of GI are limited and not applied to the potential urban spaces such as roofs and gardens. Often, roofs are characterised by impermeable paved surfaces with negative effects on human well-being, whereas garden designs do not consider social needs and environmental interactions. The role of urban stressors or the urban context as a driving force or pressure of urban green space is not always well understood and employed in the planning of green spaces. This is partly due to a knowledge gap between different science disciplines that operate on different scales, from single processes of the plants (which focus on plant responses to environmental stresses affecting human well-being) to urban ecosystems (which focus on the biodiversity and urban space planning–human well-being relationship). This can create a paradox, as green spaces that are not adequately designed might not produce the expected effects. In this paper, an overview of benefits and limitations of applying the ecosystem services approach when designing green spaces is presented. The focus is on the main urban ecosystem services provided by green roofs and community gardens such as GI that can represent strategies to provide ecological and social multifunctionality to waterproofed surfaces connected to the buildings and low-exploited gardens being the main areas that affect dense urban settlements, and thus, increasing the ecosystem services in the urban environment, such as reducing the Urban Heat Island, as well as flooding events. Specifically, the paper highlights (i) feedback between ecological processes and functions that support ecosystem services, (ii) urban environmental stresses in relation to disservices that these can create for human well-being and (iii) key issues that should be considered in the planning and design of urban ecosystem services. Such a new vision of urban ecosystem services highlights the need to look at GI as an active part of the urban space design in the built environment.

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