National Park «Elk Island» in the Moscow Region’s Green Infrastructure

Abstract

Urban green infrastructure is a key element of a comfortable living environment and a driver for sustainable development of urban areas. Protected areas as a core of ecological framework in Moscow play a huge role in maintaining an ecological balance of urban space through a number of life-supporting ecological functions. In this context the national park “Elk island” is not only the natural recreational area, located within the Russia’s largest city, but also the unique example of nature-based solution for urban sustainability. Environment of Moscow city and its suburbs is polluted by emissions from transport and local industries, and the green spaces operate as a natural absorber. Despite this green areas are the subject of conflicts between road network, living space and protected areas. On the basis of own field researches in 2018–2019 ecological functions of the national park were assessed, as well as their social significance. The results allows to conclude that the national park «Elk island»’s preservation and development can be considered as an effective nature-based solution in order to improve environmental situation and to raise quality of life in the city.