Urban Green Zones Research Articles

WAYS TO INCREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF STATE REGULATION OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF UKRAINE AND ARTISTIC ACTIVITY, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE ENVIRONMENTAL STIMULATION OF SOCIETY DURING THE WAR

This paper explores the effectiveness of state regulatory strategies in fostering socio-economic development and enhancing artistic activity in Ukraine during ongoing military conflict and environmental pressures. It delves into the crucial balance between state control and market autonomy, utilizing both historical insights and modern global practices to suggest improvements in regulatory frameworks. The focus is on a cohesive governance approach that integrates economic stabilization measures, cultural enrichment, and environmental sustainability initiatives to enhance societal resilience and well-being. This paper aims to explore strategic approaches that can enhance the effectiveness of such regulations, specifically focusing on socio-economic growth and the flourishing of artistic activities, while simultaneously considering the vital role of environmental stimulation as a catalyst for societal endurance and morale. The methodology of the conducted research involves the use of methods of comparative analysis, historical and strategic analysis, forecasting. The used methods made it possible to propose directions for solving the tasks and strategic directions. The study demonstrates that specific economic policies, such as tax breaks for key sectors and increased financial support for the arts, have significantly strengthened economic stability and continuity. State-sponsored artistic endeavors have rejuvenated Ukraine's cultural landscape, boosting both national spirit and international cultural engagement. Additionally, environmental measures, like establishing urban green zones and promoting community farming, have been shown to improve mental health and social unity, showcasing the benefits of incorporating environmental aspects into governance during times of war. The paper addresses the complexities of integrating diverse policy areas, managing resources efficiently, and sustaining public involvement under conflict conditions. It proposes an adaptable, dynamic regulatory framework to tackle these challenges. Recommendations include adopting a comprehensive policy approach, enhancing governance flexibility, and seeking international collaboration to optimize state regulation. The findings emphasize the critical role of state intervention in aligning socio-economic and cultural development, offering valuable guidance for policymakers dealing with the intricacies of governance in conflict-impacted regions.

Segregating by Greening: What do We Mean by Green Gentrification?

We clarify the relationship between greening and gentrification by examining the sociospatial dynamics that characterize and drive “green gentrification.” Through a conversation with the growing literature on green gentrification, we show that this relationship is nuanced and contingent upon contextual factors and we depict the exclusions at stake. In short, green gentrification is a process that generates urban green sacrifice zones, by which historically marginalized residents are forced away from greener neighborhoods, often segregated to greyer and climate-insecure areas, and which includes feedback loops of accelerated greening and exclusive investments. We conclude with future policy directions to address these green inequalities.

Estimation and Differential Analysis of the Carbon Sink Service Radius of Urban Green Spaces in the Beijing Plain Area

Enhancing the carbon sink capacity of urban green spaces is considered an effective means of reducing carbon dioxide concentration. This study, employing xCO2 as a key indicator and utilizing buffer analysis, estimated the carbon sink service radius of urban green spaces. Using spatial zoning and multifactor analysis, this research statistically analyzed 15 indicators, exploring the differences in carbon sink service radius from both the dimensions of urban green spaces and urban zones. The findings indicate that the carbon sink service radius is a result of the combined effect of urban green spaces and adjacent urban areas. Urban green space area, the NPP (net primary productivity) of urban zones, forest proportion, and grassland proportion are positively correlated with the carbon sink service radius, and the correlation degree is 0.12, 0.095, 0.121, and 0.125, respectively. The proportion of grassland and the proportion of impervious area in the city have a significant negative correlation with the carbon sink service radius, and the correlation degree is −0.074 and −0.081, respectively. This research holds significant implications for enhancing the carbon sink capacity of urban green spaces, adjusting land use patterns, and promoting the sustainable development of cities.

Unlocking Urban Insights: A Case Study on Impact of Urban Vegetation on Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Variability Across Different Areas of Reggio Emilia, Italy

The Po Valley is one of the European regions most severely affected by air pollution. Within the spectrum of airborne molecules, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) represent a significant component, derived from both natural processes and anthropogenic sources. All VOCs influence air quality, as they are precursors to ozone (O3), secondary organic aerosol (SOA), and particulate matter (PM). While naturally occurring VOCs contribute to the formation of air pollutants, they also have beneficial effects on human health. Furthermore, vegetation plays a fundamental role in air purification and improvement of air quality both directly, through the metabolic processes of leaves, and indirectly, through physical mechanisms.
 This study aims to evaluate the qualitative and quantitative fluctuations of VOCs in different zones within the city of Reggio Emilia (Italy), characterized by varying percentages of vegetation cover and proximity to high-traffic roads. The collected data suggest that air quality may be influenced by the spatial distribution and type of urban area, with urban parks and green zones showing lower concentrations of total VOCs compared to areas with less vegetation cover. These observations can contribute to formulating strategies to improve air quality in urban areas and emphasize the importance of vegetation in an urban context.

Variations of pollen concentration in urban alleys of park city and the transmission pattern during the period of high allergenic risk: Taking Qingyang District of Chengdu City as an example.

Pollen (spores and pollen) allergy caused by green areas is one of the most serious environmental epidemics endangering urban public health. The pollen allergy rate in China reached 17.8% in 2022, characterized by a wide age range of onset, severity and diversity of symptoms. The aims of this study were to verify the consistency of the prediction results of pollen concentration and the index of allergenicity of urban green zones (IUGZA) equation, and to clarify the dispersal pattern of tree pollen in the urban alleys of cities with high density of static wind. We selected representative high, medium and low allergenic areas based on the allergenic stress in urban alleys of Qingyang District, Chengdu calculated by IUGZA equation, and monitored the pollen concentrations by selecting points and indicator species within the three allergenic areas. There was a consistency in the variation of pollen concentration in urban alleys of the three areas, with the highest pollen concentration in March. Mean pollen concentration showed a pattern of spring > autumn > summer > winter. The main pollen sources belonged to Ginkgo, Platanus, Firmiana and Cedrus, accounting for 42.4%, 16.3%, 9.0% and 6.5% of the total pollen, respectively. Wind speed had the greatest effect on pollen concentration and its dispersal distance in the urban alley. The horizontal dispersal distance of pollen was up to 260 m, and the number of pollen showed a significant negative linear correlation with the distance away from the pollen sources. The concentration of exotic pollen collected at the high site (4.5 m above ground) was much lower than that at the near-ground site (1.5 m above ground), but without difference in the types of pollen. The results of allergenic risk predicted by the IUGZA equation were consistent with the actual measured pollen concentration, which could be used in high-density static wind city.

Aarey conservation: A multifaceted opportunity for climate mitigation in an urban setting

Abstract Citizens of the world are bracing themselves to combat and mitigate cataclysmic climate crisis. Recurrent climate accidents are leaving behind millions of climate refugees, who flock to urban centers in search of safety and security. Overcrowded metropolitan cities are highly vulnerable due to their high human densities and absolute numbers of residents and migrants. A well-connected network of urban green zones (UGZs) provides multiple values that enable sustainable climate mitigation and adaptation. The metropolis of Mumbai, with over 24 million humans (Mumbaikars), is fortunate to also have a network of large UGZs and protected areas (PAs), viz. Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Aarey Milk Colony (AMC), Tungareshwar, Thane, Tansa, and Karnala Wildlife Sanctuaries, along with mangrove forests and public parks. However, most PAs restrict entry and climate mitigation actions. AMC, spread over 12.5 km2 provides a unique “mosaic” landscape, inhabited by indigenous communities (Warli and Mahadev Koli), locals, and migrants. The hills, farms, artificial meadows, and built-up complexes, with a good road network and proximity to Mumbai’s suburbs, provide numerous opportunities to achieve the 17 sustainable development goals set out by members of the United Nations Conference of the Parties. The path to achieve climate and resource stability, in the economic capital of the nation, is a precarious one and needs planning and engagement of all stakeholders. Long-term protection of AMC will provide socioeconomic equity as well as ecological and health security to current and future generations of Mumbaikars.

Evaluating urban green and blue spaces with space-based multi-sensor datasets for sustainable development

Urban green and blue spaces refer to the natural and semi-natural areas within a city or urban area. These spaces can include parks, gardens, rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water. They play a vital role in the sustainability of cities by providing a range of ecosystem services such as air purification, carbon sequestration, water management, and biodiversity conservation. They also provide recreational and social benefits, such as promoting physical activity, mental well-being, and community cohesion. Urban green and blue spaces can also act as buffers against the negative impacts of urbanization, such as reducing the heat island effect and mitigating the effects of stormwater runoff. Therefore, it is important to maintain and enhance these spaces to ensure a healthy and sustainable urban environment. Assessing urban green and blue spaces with space-based multi-sensor datasets can be a valuable tool for sustainable development. These datasets can provide information on the location, size, and condition of green and blue spaces in urban areas, which can be used to inform decisions about land use, conservation, and urban planning. Space-based sensors, such as satellites, can provide high-resolution data that can be used to map and monitor changes in these spaces over time. Additionally, multi-sensor datasets can be used to gather information on a variety of environmental factors, such as air and water quality, that can impact the health and well-being of urban residents. This information can be used to develop sustainable solutions for preserving and enhancing urban green and blue spaces. This study examines how urban green and blue infrastructures might improve sustainable development. Space-based multi-sensor datasets are used to estimate urban green and blue zones for sustainable development. This work can inform sustainable development research at additional spatial and temporal scales.

Towards a Sustainable City with a Sensory Garden in the Context of Urban Well-Being

Human well-being is one of the main goals of sustainable development (SDG 3 and SDG 11). Urban green zones are always presented in all global well-being rankings of the cities. The development of new forms of urban green zones is stimulated by such challenges as urban health and the deficit of urban territory. Sensory gardens are one of the innovative forms of urban green zones. They implement intensive and concentrative interaction of citizens with nature, positively influencing objective and subjective human well-being. In the first part of the research, we analyzed the history of the evolution of the concept of a sensory garden from its mono-sensory to multi-sensory form using the bibliographic analysis. The results of the analyses of scientific publications were confirmed by the results of a survey presented in the second part of the research. The survey was conducted in Moscow, Saint-Petersburg, and Yekaterinburg, where 215 citizens spoke about the sensory garden. The research results confirm that the sensory gardens are a prospective form of urban green zones for citizens, and they are interested in the development of its multisensory concept. According to survey results, the zones of smells and colors in the sensory garden were the most attractive for the respondents. The respondents agreed that the main function of sensory gardens is anti-stress therapy for adults.

A Spatiotemporal Interpolation Graph Convolutional Network for Estimating PM₂.₅ Concentrations Based on Urban Functional Zones

Urban functional zones (UFZs) contain abundant landscape information that can be adopted to better understand the surroundings. Various landscape compositions and configurations reflect different human activities, which may affect the particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations. The very high-resolution (VHR) image features can reflect the physical and spatial structures of the UFZs. However, the existing PM2.5 estimation methods neither have been based on the scale of UFZs, nor have the VHR image features of UFZs as independent variables. Hence, this article proposes a spatiotemporal interpolation graph convolutional network (STI-GCN) model and introduces VHR image features to achieve PM2.5 estimation in UFZs. First, UFZs are split, and VHR image features are extracted by the visual geometry group 16 (VGG16). Subsequently, meteorological factors, aerosol optical depth (AOD), and VHR image features are used to estimate the PM2.5 concentrations at the scale of the UFZs. The two metropolises, Beijing and Shanghai, are chosen to assess the validity of the STI-GCN model. As for Beijing and Shanghai, the overall accuracy <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${R^{2}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> of the STI-GCN model can reach 0.96 and 0.89, the root-mean-square errors (RMSEs) are 8.15 and 6.40 <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu \text {g}/{\text {m}^{3}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> , the mean absolute errors (MAEs) are 5.51 and 4.78 <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu \text {g}/{\text {m}^{3}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> , and the relative prediction errors (RPEs) are 18.53% and 17.38%, respectively. Experiments show that the STI-GCN consistently outperforms other models. What’s more, the PM2.5 values are relatively high in commercial and official zones (COZs) and relatively low in urban green zones (UGZs).

Plant secondary metabolites as defenses: A review

Plant secondary metabolites have a variety of functions, including mediating relationships between organisms, responding to environmental challenges, and protecting plants against infections, pests, and herbivores. In a similar way, through controlling plant metabolism, plant microbiomes take part in many of the aforementioned processes indirectly or directly. Researchers have discovered that plants may affect their microbiome by secreting a variety of metabolites, and that the microbiome could likewise affect the metabolome of the host plant. Pesticides are agrochemicals that are employed to safeguard humans and plants from numerous illnesses in urban green zones, public health initiatives, and agricultural fields. The careless use of chemical pesticides is destroying our ecology. As a result, it is necessary to investigate environmentally benign alternatives to pathogen management, such as plant-based metabolites. According to literature, plant metabolites have been shown to have the ability to battle plant pathogens. Phenolics, flavonoids, and alkaloids are a few of the secondary metabolites of plants that have been covered in this study.

A MULTI-CRITERIA GIS BASED ANALYTICAL HIERARCHICAL APPROACH FOR SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC FARM SITE SELECTION IN THE KOLKATA METROPOLITAN AREA, INDIA

Abstract. A smart solar city ensures smart energy resilient future, low emissions and sustainable development of cities through networked infrastructure. This study aims to determine suitable locations for solar farm development in Kolkata Metropolitan Area (KMA), India, which may help the decision makers to plan resource allocation for smart renewable energy development efficiently. Numerous criteria were considered while simulating the model, including solar irradiation, distance from power substation, distance from major roads, land cover distribution, mainly canals, vacant land, urban green zones, and agricultural land. Built-up residential spaces and protected zones were however, no considered. The analysis suggests that wetlands, canals, and a major portion of open vacant land in the outskirts of the KMA are most suitable for investment in solar photovoltaics infrastructure. The present study covers different aspects of solar city planning to determine the suitable locations, which when accompanied by careful onsite investigation and meticulous planning will help decision makers and planners to design an efficient solar energy plan for the deployment of necessary infrastructure and technologies in cities.

Holistic tool for ecosystem services and disservices assessment in the urban forests of the Real Bosco di Capodimonte, Naples

A tool for urban forest Ecosystem services (ES) and disservices (ED) assessment has been developed to visualize (i) overall ES and ED value, (ii) ES–ED trade-off and (iii) explore principal influences in ES and ED provision. The Real Bosco di Capodimonte (RBC) (Naples, Southern Italy) has been chosen as a case study. ES and ED linked to urban forest plant cover were: biodiversity, carbon storage, gross and net carbon sequestration, lessen runoff, oxygen production, air pollution removal, UV effects reduction, pollen-related allergenicity risk, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions. A phytosociological survey was conducted and biodiversity value was evaluated. ES and ED were assessed by i-Tree Eco model and Index of Urban Green Zones Allergenicity (IUGZA). Results showed that 441 different plant species occur in the RBC and the most represented genera are Quercus and Trifolium, while the largest family was Asteraceae. Carbon storage and pollution removal were highest in natural forest, while remaining ES were greater in managed forest areas. Highest value for VOCs emission and allergenicity were assigned to managed and natural forest, respectively. Managed forest scored the highest ES–ED value, while managed grassland scored the lowest. Results highlighted the greater influence of plant cover structure in overall ES and ED provision levels, and management influence considering the same type of plant cover. The model could be a valuable tool for ES and ED effective management generally applicable in urban forests.

Allergenic risk analysis of street trees of urban alleys in Qingyang District, Chengdu, China

We examined the pollen allergy risk of street trees in urban alleys, with 410 urban alleys in Qingyang District, Chengdu as an example. On the basis of recording the characteristics of street trees, we calculated the index of allergenicity of urban green zones (IUGZA) values and overlay the regional population density map, and finally obtained the pollen allergy risk map of urban alleys in Qingyang District. The results showed that there were 32461 street trees in 410 urban alleys, belonging to 27 families, 41 genera, and 52 species. The distribution of tree species was extremely uneven, with excessive plantation of Ficus concinna (31.8%), Ginkgo biloba (12.9%) and Cinnamomum camphora (8.5%). The risk of pollen allergy in urban alleys was high, with an average IUGZA value of 2.61 and spring as the primary risk season. Among them, 175 alleys were at the most low allergy degree (IUGZA=0-1), 174 alleys at low degree of allergy (IUGZA=1-5), and 6 alleys at extremely high risk of allergy (IUGZA=15-20). Results of correlation analysis showed that mean tree height and canopy-to-street area ratio were the key factors affecting IUGZA of street trees in urban alleys. After superimposing the population density map, Shaocheng Street, Caoshi Street, Xiyuhe Street, Funan Street, and Supo Street had a high risk of pollen allergy.

Оцінка ризиків втрати екосистемної послуги з регулювання ерозії міськими зеленими зонами

The paper presents the methodology and results of assessment the amount of erosion control ecosystem service (ES) and the risks of it loss. Quantitative risk assessment was carried out on the basis of the fact that the green zone is currently performing or will provide its service in the future in smaller volumes. Accordingly, the assessment consisted of: a) determining the loss of ES today and b) calculating the probability of loss in the future. For the assessment, the factors that affect the volume of ES have been determined and a set of relevant estimation parameters has been substantiated. They were included as attributes to the database of Kyiv green areas. The assessment of ES volumes was based on the comparison of erosion rates caused by natural and anthropogenic factors with the rate of soil formation. Estimation of risk probabilities was calculated based on Harrington desirability function adapted to the ecosystem services assessment. The source materials in the work were vector geodata sets: “Soils”, “Vegetation”, a digital elevation model. The sets were created based on information about city landscapes, remote sensing data, field and laboratory research. The assessment was carried out for 50 urban Kyiv green spaces. As a result of geodata analysis, it was determined that most of the studied objects provide their maximum ES and, accordingly, have very low risks of loss it today. However, 30% studied areas have medium risks of ES loss in the future. The assessment can be an effective tool in environmental decision-making. Firstly, it allows to identify the areas that need the most active actions to improve the possibilities of providing ES today. Secondly, the presented methodology allows to determine the factors that are cause a danger to ES, and therefore the risks of it loss in the future. Thus, this assessment, unlike others, is aimed at solving the issue of ensuring the sustainable functioning of green areas. Thirdly, this methodology is applicable to any territory and is a necessary component in the process of determining the total amount of ES provided by urban green zones. After all, the “separate” methods of each ES calculating when converting indicators into normalized values make it possible to avoid difficulties in the general assessment of ES, which arise due to the diversity and incomparability of measurement units.

ПОКАЗНИКИ РЕКРЕАЦІЙНОЇ ЦІННОСТІ ТА ПРИДАТНОСТІ МІСЬКИХ ЗЕЛЕНИХ ЗОН ДЛЯ ОЦІНКИ КУЛЬТУРНИХ ЕКОСИСТЕМНИХ ПОСЛУГ

The purpose of the work is to determine indicators of recreational importance and suitability, as well as to develop a system of indicators of the recreational potential of green areas for their further use in the assessment of CES: aesthetic, recreational, and social exchange services and relationships. The method of work involves the application of previous experience of domestic and foreign research in the areas of resource assessment of territories for the purposes of organization and development of recreation. Evaluation and categorization of green zones according to the recreational opportunities defined in the system of values is carried out according to 5-point scales with clearly defined criteria of recreational qualities. The overall recreational importance and suitability of green zones for the provision of cultural ecosystem services is objectively determined as the total score of their recreational evaluation based on a set of indicators. Recreational value and suitability, characterized by parameters of medical and biological favorability, aesthetics and landscaping, form the overall recreational potential of urban green areas. The first group of parameters reflects the recreational usefulness of the green zone, and includes values of: phytoncide, dust and gas resistance, air ionization. The second group of parameters includes the value of the diversity of the dendrological composition of the plantations, visibility and uniqueness of the landscape, which generally determine its aesthetics. The third group of parameters reflects the general improvement of urban green zones and includes the value of infrastructure development, the presence of water bodies, historical-cultural/architectural/natural monuments, points of landscape discovery, etc. Recreational potential directly affects the overall capacity of green areas to provide cultural ecosystem services (CES). Scientific novelty. The work analyzed approaches to the assessment of recreational resources, based on the results of the analysis of previous experience, 10 values of the recreational potential of urban green areas were determined, which are important in the formation of the CES proposal. The offer of CES in urban ecosystems is formed not only thanks to the subjective perception of city residents, but also depends to an equal extent on a set of objectively existing conditions and factors of the territory, which is capable of providing cultural ecosystem services. Practical meaning. The determined values of the recreational potential of urban green zones will allow more objective consideration during the evaluation of all the recreational properties of the green zone, which determine its potential in providing CES. It is advisable to use such indicators in CES evaluation to reduce subjectivity in determining their offer.

Allergenic risk assessment of urban parks: Towards a standard index

Allergenicity indices are a powerful tool to assess the health hazard posed by urban parks to pollen allergic subjects. Nonetheless, only few indices have been developed and applied to urban vegetation in the last decade, and they were never compared nor standardised over the same dataset. To address this issue, in this paper the two best-known allergenicity indices, the Urban Green Zones Allergenicity Index (IUGZA) and the Specific Allergenicity Index (SAI), have been calculated for the same park (the Botanical Garden of Bologna), collecting vegetation data through both systematic sampling and arboreal census. The results obtained with the two data collection methods were comparable for both indices, indicating systematic sampling as a reliable approximation of the total census. Besides, the allergenic risk resulted moderate to high according to SAI, and very low according to IUGZA. Since SAI does not consider the total volume of the vegetation, it was deemed less reliable than IUGZA in evaluating the allergenicity of an enclosed green space.

Assessing pollinosis risk in the Vesuvius National Park: A novel approach for Index of Urban Green Zones Allergenicity

Pollen released by urban flora is the mayor contributor to airborne allergen content, with adverse impact on human health, representing one of the main ecosystems disservices. The Vesuvius National Park (Southern Italy) develops on an area of 8017 ha, falling within thirteen municipalities, in which 345,000 people live. Pollination events in the park may pose a threat to the health of people damaging their well-being. The objective of this work is to establish the potential allergenic value of the plant species occurring in the Vesuvius National Park, so that the allergenicity of the park can be estimated through version novel approach for Index of Urban Green Zones Allergenicity (modIUGZA). It allows the determination of allergenicity of extended areas, by using sampling area and subsequent estimation of plant covers with Braun-Blanquet scale. Sampling areas have been defined and phytosociological surveys have been conducted to register plant species, relative covers and allergenicity potential. As a weighting factor, the surfaces of the park total area, and municipalities’ areas were used. First, we obtained the results by the traditional deterministic approach. The results indicated that an allergic risk cannot be excluded for Ottaviano municipality and the whole park. Subsequently, we developed a quantitative risk assessment model for allergenic risk based on probabilistic model resulting in a more exhaustive risk assessment. There is a 5% probability that in the Vesuvius National Park, the vegetation may rise to an allergenic risk. The municipality-level probabilistic risk outcomes also reveal a certain probability of risk even for eleven municipalities. Sensitivity analysis indicate that plant height and vegetation cover mainly affect expected risk. This tool may be useful to forecast and prevent pollinosis related events on a large scale, allowing risk mitigation measure in health protection perspective.

Environmental stressors and well-being on middle-aged and elderly people: the mediating role of outdoor leisure behaviour and place attachment.

This study develops a relational model of how environmental stressors, place attachment and outdoor leisure are related to urban green zones and, accordingly, Fujian Province in China is studied as our case problem. The research is participated by primarily middle-aged and elderly residents. In total, 871 valid questionnaires are retrieved. Structural equation modelling and path analysis are used to verify the model's fitness. The results indicate that environmental stressors and outdoor leisure are significantly negatively correlated. In addition, the outdoor leisure and place attachment are significantly positively correlated. As such, the place attachment and well-being are significantly positively correlated. However, the place attachment and outdoor leisure mediated the relationship between environmental stressors and well-being. The mediating path indicated that middle-aged and elderly residents face severe environmental stressors and will engage in a few outdoor leisure activities, resulting in low well-being. Furthermore, when middle-aged and elderly residents face severe environmental stressors, they have increased place attachment, thereby increasing their well-being. The findings can serve as a reference for environmental management agencies and future researchers.

Urban Green Infrastructure Inventory as a Key Prerequisite to Sustainable Cities in Ukraine under Extreme Heat Events

The frequency of extreme heat effects has recently increased in European cities due to climate change. The problem appears to be critical in urban areas where manmade structures significantly alter the temperature balance, thus highlighting the importance of sustainable management and proper inventory of urban green zones. Based on this, the paper provides a case study on using a combination of open-access and low-cost urban greenery inventory methods that could be used by municipal governments and private land managers to estimate the contribution of urban trees to the mitigation of urban heat impacts. The research focuses on the urban greenery inventory of courtyards in high-rise residential districts of the city of Kyiv (Ukraine), aiming to estimate the adapting potential of urban vegetation against heatwaves. Visual and thermal satellite images of Kyiv enabled us to estimate how the density of buildings and greenery is distributed and analyze the surface temperature in residential districts. A UAV thermal imaging survey was made in four selected locations with varying vegetation coverage, followed by leaf-based field instrumental analysis of photosynthetic activity in selected city tree species at hot temperatures. In addition, 16 portable temperature and humidity sensors were installed in shaded and sunlight-exposed areas of the locations in focus to assess the microclimate formation impact of trees in a high-rise residential courtyard. The Ukrainian legislation on the management of green spaces in cities was reviewed to find out whether it promotes the shaping of comfortable microclimates in residential districts; follow-up recommendations were made on how to improve the applicable provisions.

Assessment of the ecosystem service indicators of urban green zones in relation with the urbogenic load of Ukraine regions

Assessment of the ecosystem service indicators of urban green zones in relation with the urbogenic load of Ukraine regions