City Dwellers Research Articles

Wilding cities for biodiversity and people: a transdisciplinary framework.

Accelerating urbanisation and associated lifestyle changes result in loss of biodiversity and diminished wellbeing of people through fewer direct interactions and experiences with nature. In this review, we propose the notion of urban wilding (the promotion of autonomous ecological processes that are independent of historical land-use conditions, with minimal direct human maintenance and planting interventions) and investigate its propensity to improve biodiversity and people-nature connections in cities. Through a large interdisciplinary synthesis, we explore the ecological mechanisms through which urban wilding can promote biodiversity in cities, investigate the attitudes and relations of city dwellers towards urban wild spaces, and discuss the integration of urban wilding into the fabric of cities and its governance. We show that favouring assembly spontaneity by reducing planting interventions, and functional spontaneity by limiting maintenance practices, can promote plant diversity and provide ecological resources for numerous organisms at habitat and city scales. These processes could reverse biotic homogenisation, but further studies are needed to understand the effects of wilding on invasive species and their consequences. From a socio-ecological perspective, the attitudes of city dwellers towards spontaneous vegetation are modulated by successional stages, with grassland and woodland stages preferred, but dense shrubby vegetation stages disliked. Wild spaces can diversify physical interactions with nature, and enrich multi-sensory, affective and cognitive experiences of nature in cities. However, some aspects of wild spaces can cause anxiety, feeling unsafe, and the perception of abandonment. These negative attitudes could be mitigated by subtle design and maintenance interventions. While nature has long been thought of as ornamental and instrumental in cities, urban wilding could help to develop relational and intrinsic values of nature in the fabric of cities. Wildness and its singular aesthetics should be combined with cultural norms, resident uses and urban functions to plan and design urban spatial configurations promoting human-non-human cohabitation. For urban wilding to be socially just and adapted to the needs of residents, its implementation should be backed by inclusive governance opening up discussion forums to residents and urban workers. Scientists can support these changes by collaborating with urban actors to design and experiment with new wild spaces promoting biodiversity and wellbeing of people in cities.

Multi-Sensor Classification Framework of Urban Vegetation for Improving Ecological Services Management

Recent climatic changes have profoundly impacted the urban microclimate, exposing city dwellers to harsh living conditions. One effective approach to mitigating these events involves incorporating more green infrastructure into the cityscape. The ecological services provided by urban vegetation play a crucial role in enhancing the sustainability and livability of cities. However, monitoring urban vegetation and accurately estimating its status pose challenges due to the heterogeneous nature of the urban environment. In response to this, the current study proposes utilizing a remote sensing-based classification framework to enhance data availability, thereby improving practices related to urban vegetation management. The aim of the current research is to explore the spatial pattern of vegetation and enhance the classification of tree species within diverse and complex urban environments. This study combines various remote sensing observations to enhance classification capabilities. High-resolution colored rectified aerial photographs, LiDAR-derived products, and hyperspectral data are merged and analyzed using advanced classifier methods, specifically partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and object-based image analysis (OBIA). The OBIA method demonstrates an impressive overall accuracy of 95.30%, while the PLS-DA model excels with a remarkable overall accuracy of 100%. The findings validate the efficacy of incorporating OBIA, aerial photographs, LiDAR, and hyperspectral data in improving tree species classification and mapping within the context of PLS-DA. This classification framework holds significant potential for enhancing management practices and tools, thereby optimizing the ecological services provided by urban vegetation and fostering the development of sustainable cities.

Житлово-побутові умови та комунальне обслуговування мешканців м. Вінниці у 1920-х роках

The purpose of the article is to reconstruct the state of the communal economy of the city of Vinnytsia in the historical period of the 20s of the 20th century, in particular, the formation of such components as housing, electricity supply, water supply, sewage, transport, and the organization of urban space. The research methodology is based on the principles of historicism, scientificity, objectivity and systematicity, as well as the application of general scientific (analysis, synthesis, generalization) and special-historical (problematic-chronological, specific-research, historical-comparative, critical) methods. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the fact that, based on the analysis of available documentary and empirical material, the study of a wide range of scientific works, the authors made a comprehensive analysis of the situation of the communal economy of Vinnytsia during the period of the formation of Soviet power, taking into account the specifics of the Podilsk region. Conclusions. In the period of the 1920s, the communal economy throughout Ukraine was in a state of crisis and needed almost complete reconstruction. This was explained not only by the consequences of the revolutionary events of 1917-1921 and the civil war, but also by the Bolshevik policy of "war communism". The problems of improving housing and living conditions for the population were particularly acute in Podillia and, in particular, in Vinnytsia, due to its border location and the conduct of hostilities in the region. The gradual improvement of the city's communal economy began with the introduction of a new economic policy. The main task of the government was to restore the housing stock, economic facilities, city communications and infrastructure. Thanks to the steps towards decommunization, reforms of the management structures of the communal economy, the formation of local budgets, certain positive developments took place in its development: the solution to the "housing crisis" began, favorable conditions for the normal economic operation of buildings began to be created, the reconstruction of electric companies and city transport was carried out, and the communal infrastructure was improved , which contributed to the improvement of the life of the population and the well-being of the city. However, despite these positive trends, there were a number of problems faced by city dwellers - lack of housing, unsanitary conditions of residential premises, incomplete operation of electricity and water supply, insufficient number of communal baths, deficiencies in the organization of fire protection. A number of problems of the improvement of the city originate from the 20s of the 20th century. and is not fully resolved even in modern conditions.

How Financial Literacy Impacts Financial Well-Being: The Influence of Financial and Technical Efficacy

The fundamental human resource that influences financial well-being is financial literacy. People are more likely to save and invest if they understand the time value of money, credit, insurance, and investments. Having a sound financial understanding lessens stress and increases financial well-being. This study used a structured survey questionnaire and back-translated it into Bangla to ease readability for the respondents. Four hundred thirty-five invitations were sent mainly to the Dhaka city dwellers’ and only 253 complete responses were retained for analysis. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) is used to assess the intercorrelations and validate the measurement model among the constructs (financial attitude, behavior, knowledge, self-efficacy, technological self-efficacy, and financial well-being) using SmartPLS version 4. The result found a full mediation effect among financial behavior, financial self-efficacy, and financial well-being. Partial mediation effects are found among financial attitudes toward financial self-efficacy, technological self-efficacy, and financial well-being.

L’espace public à Algér : le désintérêt privé (beylick) comme produit du contrôle public

Public spaces in Algeria are characterized by the strong lack of interest among people who rely entirely on public authority. Not any tendency here to make of it a common good. The purpose of the paper is to exhibit the extent of popular indifference from in situ observations in Algiers and to explain this attitude through historical analysis. Indeed, the collective imaginary and practices have not always been insensitive to public spaces. On the contrary, in traditional rural society, public spaces were perceived as a continuity of domestic space. The peasant was obliged to take charge of its maintenance as well as for his home, his intimate space. To understand the later behavioural evolution, we must refer to the Ottoman and colonial domination processes. Each period had its own way of considering public spaces, but the urban management systems have always been based on a discrimination policy against natives and a strict control of the public spaces to the point of making them appear as the State property in the collective mentality. This perception of a grabbing of public spaces by the Turkish governor (Beylik) and later by the French colonial administration (for security reasons) has led amongst city dwellers to a feeling of exclusion and a disaffection that still characterize their attitude today.

An Analysis of Urban Green Space Policies, Laws and Institutional Frameworks in Dandora Estates, Nairobi County

Urban green spaces have long been integral to urban planning, offering a vital connection between city dwellers and the natural world. Sustainable development and urban well-being are increasingly influenced by policies and laws governing these green spaces. While some nations, like Singapore and England, have achieved notable success through stringent policies and effective implementation, others, such as Poland and Colombia, face challenges in coordination and enforcement. Africa confronts unique hurdles, from outdated regulations to bureaucratic delays. This paper assesses the effectiveness of urban green space policies and laws in slum areas, with a focus on Dandora, Kenya

Simulating urban scaling with a term linkages network of a university

In this paper, we make an attempt to increase our understanding of the urban scaling phenomenon. The aim is to investigate how superlinear scaling emerges if a network increases in size and how this scaling depends on the occurrence of elements that constitute the network. To this end, we consider a city as a complex network structure and simulate this structure by the network of all publications of a research intensive university. In this simulation, the publications take the role of the city inhabitants and the concepts (terms and keywords) in the publications represent all kinds of abilities and qualities of the inhabitants. We use in this experiment all author- and database-given terms of the scientific publications of Leiden University from 2022. We calculate the co-occurrence of terms, and on the basis of these connections, we create a network and let this network grow by successively adding publications from the total set of publications. In this way, we get a series of networks with different sizes and this simulates a series of cities with different number of inhabitants. This procedure is performed for different values of the term occurrence threshold. We then analyze how four important network parameters, namely, number of terms, number of clusters, number of links, and total link strength increase with increasing size of the network. Particularly the number of network links and the total network linkage strength are in our opinion the parameters that dominate the scaling phenomenon and can be considered as a simulation of the socioeconomic strength of a city, that is, its gross urban product. We find a significant power law dependence of these network parameters on network size and the power law exponents for the lowest occurrence threshold are within the range that is typical for urban scaling. In our approach, the number of clusters can be interpreted as a measure of complexity within the network. Since the occurrence threshold determines the diversity of terms, we may expect a special relation between the occurrence threshold and the number of clusters. This is indeed the case: whereas for the three other network parameters the scaling exponent increases with increasing occurrence threshold, the number of clusters is the only network parameter of which the scaling exponent decreases with increasing occurrence threshold. Finally, we discuss how our publication term network approach relates to scaling phenomena in cities.

Ecological traits predict population trends of urban birds in Europe

The population dynamics of urban animals has been so far remarkably understudied. At the same time, urban species’ population trends can provide important information on the consequences of environmental changes in cities. We modelled long-term population trends of 93 bird species breeding in urban areas in 16 European countries as a function of species’ traits, characterising variability in their urbanization and ecology. We found that: (i) earlier colonisers have more negative population trends than recent colonisers; (ii) more urbanized open habitat species had more positive population trends than less urbanized open habitat species; (iii) highly urbanized birds breeding above the ground had more negative trends than highly urbanized ground breeders. These patterns can be explained by several processes occurring in cities as well as outside city borders. Namely, (i) pre-industrial colonisers might struggle to persist in rapidly changing urban areas, limiting their foraging and breeding opportunities of the birds. (ii) Open habitats are under pressure of intensive agricultural exploitation in rural areas, which may negatively affect populations of less urbanized birds. In contrast, urban areas do not experience such pressure keeping the trends of urbanized open habitat species more positive. (iii) Differences in population trends between highly urbanized ground and above-ground breeders suggest that the latter may lose their breeding opportunities in modern buildings that do not provide suitable breeding sites. Our results indicate that even once successful, city dwellers may not keep pace with changes in urban areas, but these areas may also provide suitable habitats for biodiversity.

Exploring the Land Cover Material Interaction of Urban Open Space on the Thermal Comfort of Crowds in High-Temperature Environments and Retrofit Strategies: Two Case Studies in the Nanjing Xinjiekou District

The increased frequency of extreme hot weather events in recent years poses a significant threat to the lives and health of urban residents. Consequently, the thermal comfort of urban open areas has garnered growing attention. The ground material in these urban open areas directly impacts the thermal environment, which significantly influences the comfort of crowds. This study aimed to assess the effect of land cover materials in urban center squares on the thermal comfort of people in high-temperature conditions. Eight types of land cover materials were selected from the two urban squares in the central district of Nanjing Xinjiekou. Physiological equivalent temperature (PET) calculations were performed by measuring the surface temperature, the air temperature, the humidity, and other relevant data to evaluate population thermal comfort. The findings indicated that grass provided the highest thermal comfort, with PET scores ranked as follows, from low to high: grass, permeable bricks, granite, concrete, basalt, bluestone, andesite, and asphalt. Additionally, factors such as color, roughness, and shade within the same material also impacted thermal comfort. Subsequently, using the ENVI-met 5.1 software, surface materials exhibiting superior thermal comfort were simulated for replacement, aiming to confirm the experimental results and propose retrofit strategies for improving urban square thermal comfort by optimizing material selection. The outcomes of this study hold significant implications for urban open space design and the overall well-being of city dwellers. The thermal environment in urban centers during high-temperature conditions can be improved by optimizing the choice of land cover materials in urban open areas, thereby enhancing the comfort of the population.

Post-WWII Ruins on Photography: An Introduction to the Reconstruction of the City of Poznań. Case Study Old Town

The aftermath of World War II (WWII) left numerous European cities devastated, necessitating extensive reconstruction efforts to restore their urban fabric. The city of Poznań, located in western Poland, was no exception, as it bore witness to widespread destruction during the war. In this abstract, we delve into the role of photography in documenting the ruins of Poznań after WWII and how these visual records have contributed to the city's subsequent reconstruction. This research explores the visual representations of post-war ruins in Poznań through the lens of documentary photography. By examining archival photographs, contemporary accounts, and historical narratives, we aim to analyse the significance of these images in understanding the extent of the destruction and the subsequent efforts to rebuild the city. The abstract highlights the inherent power of photography to capture the raw reality of urban devastation, conveying the magnitude of the challenges faced by the city's inhabitants in the aftermath of war. Furthermore, it sheds light on the ways in which photographic documentation played a crucial role in informing reconstruction initiatives, acting as a visual guide for architects, urban planners and policymakers. Drawing from the rich visual archive of post-war Poznań, this study showcases how photographs served as a valuable resource for documenting architectural losses, mapping destroyed areas and preserving cultural heritage. By juxtaposing historical photographs with contemporary images, we examine how the city's landscape has evolved over time, tracing the progression from ruins to reconstruction.

Assessment of drinking-water quality in the Dibamba watershed (Douala-Cameroon

Background: Residents of Douala including Dibamba watershed collect water from various points to fulfill their freshwater needs. However, it is known that many microorganisms, including parasites, bacteria, viruses, and even alga, are present in water where they form a complex ecosystem. These microorganisms are held responsible for most of the contamination in drinking water and related diseases that threaten health of many individuals. Objectives: This study aims to determine the bacteriological and physicochemical quality of drinking water used by city dwellers in the Dibamba watershed. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in different communities living in the watershed. A total of 58 drinking water samples were randomly collected from a variety of water resources. The analyses were performed for temperature, Ph, and conductivity; and for bacterial parameters, namely, to trace the presence of organisms and opportunistic pathogens indicative of fecal contamination. Results: Water used for consumption purposes have an acidic pH, low dissolved oxygen content, and shows high levels of microorganisms, testifying water pollution due to domestic wastewater discharged without any prior treatment, and coming from domestic, livestock and agricultural activities carried out in the watershed. These contaminated waters contain pathogenic species (Shigella, Salmonella, E.Coli, etc.) suspected of being the cause of waterborne infectious diseases in the watershed.. Conclusion: The results of our study show that 95% of tested drinking water samples are of low microbiological quality. They neither fulfill requirements of World Health Organization standards, nor fit for human consumption. Therefore, Decision-makers and Stake holders should implement practical actions to facilitate access to safe and sufficient drinking water in the watershed.

Analysis of Heat and Associated Health Risks in Delhi, India

Climate change has added significant challenges to nation’s worldwide, particularly in Asian countries due to their heavy reliance on climate-sensitive industries like forestry, fisheries, and tourism, Asian countries struggle economically and are slow to seize development opportunities. It has a significant impact on human health, with extreme heat and air pollution leading to thermal discomfort and health problems for city dwellers. Amplified heat waves, elevated levels of air pollution, and extreme weather occurrences are some of the issues faced by city dwellers. Climate change has aggravated health issues in Delhi, India, that includes respiratory and heat-related illness. The present study explores a link between temperature variations, land surface temperatures, and health outcomes to assess climate change risks with heat as the prime focus area in Delhi. It investigates the relationship between average maximum temperature and mortality and find strong positive correlations. It explores yearly land surface temperature variations and the hospital visits and strong correlation exists with temperature for health outcomes like stroke and diabetes. This study analyzes the impact of temperature variations on specific health conditions. Accordingly, the proposals could be framed through understanding of the relationship between heat and health on vulnerable population.

Vertical Green Landscape Facades as a Reducer of Pollution in High Density Cities: A Review

As urbanization continues to intensify, high-density cities grapple with escalating environmental and social challenges that directly impact the well-being of their inhabitants. This paper explores the potential of vertical green landscape facades as a pragmatic solution to mitigate these issues while fostering sustainability within urban environments. In recent times, vertical green landscape design concepts have garnered increasing attention and popularity for their ability to combat pollution and enhance the quality of life in densely populated urban areas. This paper delves into the manifold benefits of vertical green landscapes, as demonstrated by recent research, focusing on their positive reception among the public and their capacity to offer novel avenues for developing green infrastructure. Through an in-depth analysis of relevant literature and case studies, this paper evaluates the role of vertical green landscapes as an effective reducer of pollution in high-density cities. It discusses their capacity to mitigate air and noise pollution, improve microclimates, and contribute to urban aesthetics. Additionally, it addresses the social and psychological advantages of integrating these green systems into urban design, emphasizing their potential to enhance the well-being and livability of city dwellers. By combining quantitative and qualitative methods, the study aims to provide a holistic understanding of the benefits and challenges associated with these innovative urban green solutions. In conclusion, this paper underscores the pivotal role of vertical green landscape facades as a sustainable and aesthetically pleasing means of combatting the environmental and social challenges of high-density urbanization. By presenting empirical evidence of their efficacy and positive reception, it advocates for their increased integration into urban planning and design strategies as a pragmatic response to the complex issues faced by contemporary cities.

Correlations of Loneliness among Nepalese Senior Citizens

The Proportion of the elderly in Nepal is increasing rapidly. Senior citizens are prone to spirits of loneliness. It comprises both solitary life and life with the potential to participate in interaction with others. The purpose of the study was to analyze the loneliness situation among Nepalese young senior citizens. The subjects (n = 513) inhabitants of Butwal sub-metropolitan city having an age range of 60 to 74 (mean/SD = 65.86/4.20) years were female dominated (52.6 percent). Data were collected through frontal interviews using 20 statements of the loneliness scale developed by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The data were analyzed using correlation vicariate, multiple regression analysis, and independent sample t-test. The study observed that 29.63 percent reported experiencing low levels of loneliness, 21.25 percent experienced moderate levels, and 49.12 percent reported high levels of loneliness. These levels of loneliness were categorized based on the scoring range: scores below 30 indicated low loneliness, scores of 30 to 39 indicated moderate loneliness, and scores of 40 or higher indicated high levels of loneliness. A statistically significant correlation was found between feelings of loneliness, sex, family type, marital status, education, social participation, and property ownership. Results of multiple regression analysis displayed property ownership, marital status, type of family, and sex standing as significant factors of loneliness. The present results indicate remarkable Nepalese young senior citizens were experiencing loneliness. It is necessary to assess the levels of loneliness of young senior citizens and pursue an intervention to reduce these problems.

Making cities mental health friendly for adolescents and young adults

Urban life shapes the mental health of city dwellers, and although cities provide access to health, education and economic gain, urban environments are often detrimental to mental health1,2. Increasing urbanization over the next three decades will be accompanied by a growing population of children and adolescents living in cities3. Shaping the aspects of urban life that influence youth mental health could have an enormous impact on adolescent well-being and adult trajectories4. We invited a multidisciplinary, global group of researchers, practitioners, advocates and young people to complete sequential surveys to identify and prioritize the characteristics of a mental health-friendly city for young people. Here we show a set of ranked characteristic statements, grouped by personal, interpersonal, community, organizational, policy and environmental domains of intervention. Life skills for personal development, valuing and accepting young people’s ideas and choices, providing safe public space for social connection, employment and job security, centring youth input in urban planning and design, and addressing adverse social determinants were priorities by domain. We report the adversities that COVID-19 generated and link relevant actions to these data. Our findings highlight the need for intersectoral, multilevel intervention and for inclusive, equitable, participatory design of cities that support youth mental health.

Is it possible to implement the idea of zero waste in waste management in Poznań?

The aim of the study was to find out the awareness and readiness of Poznań residents to implement the Zero Waste (ZW) idea in the city. Residents' knowledge of the hazards of municipal waste generation and their familiarity with and degree of adherence to ZW principles were investigated. The research was carried out through a questionnaire survey. The article is a form of answering whether the inhabitants of a large city in Poland are ready to implement the ZW idea. The research presents the level of preparation (readiness) of the inhabitants of Poznań and the conditions enabling the implementation of ZW in the city. The results were statistically analysed. Conclusions indicate a significant readiness of the respondents to implement the ZW idea. A preliminary concept of reducing municipal waste by promoting ZW in the city was indicated. This is important because Poznań is currently rebuilding its municipal waste management.

Preliminary assessment of volatile organic compounds and hazardous gases dispersion at low winds: case study of Mellitah Gas Complex, Libya

Air pollution from industrial areas has become really worrying especially for city dwellers. The plume dispersion emitted from industrial sources is subject to several factors: temperature and emission rate velocity, wind speed and direction, source height, and atmospheric stability. This study aimed to evaluate the applicability of the dispersion coefficients correlated within a Gaussian plume approach to an industrial source in Libya (Mellitah Gas Complex) under low and moderate wind speeds. To this end, we have developed a specific code based on the Gaussian method to study the dispersion of (1) Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from oil storage tanks and condensate storage tanks, and (2) sulfur oxides (SOx) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emitted by the flaring process through three stacks of 80 m height. The emissions from multisource points and their dispersion have been predicted at calm wind conditions and the flammability and danger-prone toxic zones have been delimited around the studied site. The obtained results reveal that the emissions, particularly generated at low and moderate wind speeds, induce a dispersion with high concentration levels in the area surrounding the industrial site. The VOCs critical concentration region indicates a real risk of flammability at low-speed wind and stable atmospheric condition, from a height of 5 m above the ground. In fact, the VOCs concentration reach the Flammability Inferior Limit value of 0.018 m3 VOCs/m3 and these concentrations, appearing in the form of a plume, extend downstream to approximately 1000 m. The dispersion of NOx and SOx emissions downwind from the stacks are enhanced by wind speed; nevertheless, at 2 m height from the ground, the levels could exceed the limit value of 0.125 mg/m3, especially under the condition of unstable and very unstable atmospheric classes. From our findings, we recommend continuous monitoring campaigns inside and around the complex of Mellitah to ensure an environmentally secure zone that respects safety and health guidelines. Furthermore, enhanced simulations based on hourly weather conditions for extended area would be of great interest to accurately assess the air quality index in the region.

Exposure of Neighborhood Racial and Socio-Economic Composition in Activity Space: A New Approach Adjusting for Residential Conditions.

A longstanding urban sociological literature emphasizes the geographic isolation of city dwellers in residence and everyday routines, expecting exposures to neighborhood racial and socio-economic structure driven principally by city-wide segregation and the role of proximity and homophily in mobility. The compelled mobility approach emphasizes the uneven distribution of organizational and institutional resources across urban space, expecting residents of poor Black-segregated neighborhoods to exhibit non-trivial levels of everyday exposure to White, non-poor areas for resource seeking. We use two sets of location data in the hypersegregated Chicago metro to examine these two approaches: Global Positioning System (GPS) location tracking on a sample of older adults from the Chicago Health and Activity Space in Real-Time (CHART) study and travel diaries on a sample of younger adults by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP). We introduce a novel and flexible individual-level method for assessing activity space exposures that accounts for the spatially proximate environment around home. Analyses reveal that activity space contexts mimic the racial/ethnic and socio-economic landscape of respondents' broad residential environment. However, after residential-based adjustment, Black younger (CMAP) adults from poor Black neighborhoods are disproportionately exposed to Whiter, less Black but less non-poor neighborhoods. Older (CHART) adult activity spaces align more closely with their residential areas; however, activity spaces of poor-Black-neighborhood-residing CHART Blacks are systematically poorer and, less consistently, more Black and less White after local area adjustment. Implications for understanding contextual exposures on well-being and the potential for age or cohort differences in isolation are discussed.

Role of Street trees in Urban Landscape: A Resource Audit

Street trees first considered as an ornamentation of the city landscape while brings unique identity to the city. Sri Lanka being a bio diversity hotspot large variety of trees and shrubs were available and used as part of urban landscape ornamentation. Choice of street trees based on agroclimatic zone, cultural identities, characteristics and multipurpose nature of the species. Main focus of study was to explore the role of street trees in ornamentation of cities and identify uniqueness brought to the city landscape, find out ecosystem services provided by the street trees and find out socially, culturally, economically and environmentally suitable trees species for cities located in different agroclimatic zones of Sri Lanka. Case study approach was instrumental for this study. Main data collection tools were field observations, in-depth interviews with city dwellers (45), visitors (35), officers of municipal council and urban development authority (10) and scientists (3) and policy makers (3) and maps of the cities considered for the study. Present study based on the street tree profile of 5 main cities (Colombo, Galle, Matara, Anuradhapura and Kandy), town (Bandarawela, Kaluthara, Hambantota, Rathnapura, Peradeniya and Batticaloa) and small town (Suriyawewa, Ambalongoda, Bandaragama, Mawenella, Aluthgama and Mirissa). Street trees of the main cities were ornamented by culturally imported tree species while street of the town areas was appeared with diverse mixture of trees. In Contrast economically importuned trees were common in small towns. Typology of street trees were developed using seven dimensions; social benefits, functional properties, resistant to urban environment, environmental constraints, cultural constraints and limitation constraints. 6 species were identified as the most suitable for street posadas among 15 species found in street trees. Street trees played multifunctional role in urban landscape other than its themed ornamentation role. 
 Keywords: Ecosystem services, Street, trees, Urban landscape

Distinct latitudinal patterns and drivers of topsoil nitrogen and phosphorus across urban forests in eastern China.

Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are the two most important macronutrients supporting forest growth. Unprecedented urbanization has created growing areas of urban forests that provide key ecosystem services for city dwellers. However, the large-scale patterns of soil N and P content remain poorly understood in urban forests. Based on a systematic soil survey in urban forests from nine large cities across eastern China, we examined the spatial patterns and key drivers of topsoil (0-20 cm) total N content, total P content, and N:P ratio. Topsoil total N content was found to change significantly with latitude in the form of an inverted parabolic curve, while total P content showed an opposite latitudinal pattern. Variance partition analysis indicated that regional-scale patterns of topsoil total N and P contents were dominated by climatic drivers and partially regulated by time and pedogenic drivers. Conditional regression analyses showed a significant increase in topsoil total N content with lower mean annual temperature (MAT) and higher mean annual precipitation (MAP), while topsoil total P content decreased significantly with higher MAP. Topsoil total N content also increased significantly with the age of urban park and varied with pre-urban soil type, while no such effects were found for topsoil total P content. Moreover, topsoil N:P ratio showed a latitudinal pattern similar to that of topsoil total N content and also increased significantly with lower MAT and higher MAP. Our findings demonstrate distinct latitudinal trends of topsoil N and P contents and highlight a dominant role of climatic drivers in shaping the large-scale patterns of topsoil nutrients in urban forests.