GREEN SPACES IN CITIES AND SURROUNDINGS. SEARCH FOR THE WAYS TO OPTIMIZE ENVIRONMENTAL RELATIONS IN THE CONCEPT OF «GREAT LVIV»

Abstract

Forming of green spaces in Lviv has a long-lasting historical tradition starting from city inclusion into Austro-Hungarian Empire and continuing in the period be-tween wars (Polish) (1919–1939) and German-Soviet period (1939–1989). Landscap-ing was treated differently in these periods. Relevant approaches to city landscaping and architectural techniques were formed. Currently the intensification and concen-tration of developments is taking place in the city, anthropological pressure on bio-logically active city territories is growing, “green islands” are disappearing, air pollu-tion is increasing, integrity and continuity of green spaces are being violated and the requirements enshrined in the laws, rules and urban planning documents are not com-plied with. The number of green spaces in the city is reducing and their quality is de-teriorating. Characteristics of natural-landscape conditions of Lviv suburban zone and its resources indicates the unique natural-landscape peculiarities of the territory: it is lo-cated on the main European watershed. There are certain natural areas here with complicated configuration (geomorphological area of Lviv Roztochya, Lviv plateau, Hryadove Pobuzhzhya (banks along the tributaries of the Western Bug River), plain of Small Polissya, etc). The corresponding regimen of “nature’s life” was formed. The system of settlement in suburban areas has been formed historically and is de-pendent on natural-landscape conditions: the khutir (isolated farmstead) system is preserved in the Western direction; established settlement system was ruined in the course of construction of military training area; settlements are concentrated towards the direction of Lviv and transport communications. New construction within the area under research is characterized by non-systemic and chaotic nature — the decisive role here is played by specialists in land management, who set the perspectives of set-tlements development and urbanization processes expansion by their local decisions. In general, the territories have considerable natural-landscape capacity and reserves for development. However, the integral concept of landscapes protection and per-spective use and development of Lviv suburbs is lacking. Main activity is taking place at the level of newly created territorial communities, creating environmental and social-economic threats for Lviv and the territories in future. The problems of green spaces and their interaction with surroundings are out-lined. Main attention is focused on project mistakes and violations of standards and requirements of urban planning documents. Analysis of strategic documents devel-oped in the recent decades shows that they are of declarative nature; there isn’t any objective statistics; the structure is not developed and city processes are not moni-tored; local programs and experts’ views are manipulated. Of special concern are the issues of ignoring of master plan requirements, speculative approach of local territo-rial communities to development and use of territories (including the development of nature protection areas); orientation solely on capital inflow. Existing suggestions on improvement of environmental situation in the city and optimization of city interac-tion with surroundings are examined and the authors’ suggestions are outlined. Lviv and its suburbs will have to change — to be oriented on human-centered and envi-ronmentally sound approach to co-existence, improvement of socio-environmental-economic efficiency of the use of resources, — which the concept of urban planning system “Great Lviv” is oriented on.