Urban environments have profoundly impacted natural ecosystems, particularly in large cities. Industrialization, urban sprawl, and air pollution have hindered sustainable green development and affected the availability of recreational spaces, peace, and eco-tourism. Among the most appealing features of urban green spaces is natural greenery, which can be leveraged as a tool for promoting eco-tourism. Most tourists visiting these areas travel by private tourist buses, with some using personal vehicles. Winter is considered the peak season for visits, driven by tourists seeking a peaceful environment and mental relaxation through the attraction of snowfall. This seasonal preference highlights the connection between natural spaces and stress reduction. The government has taken steps to conserve natural green spaces through initiatives aimed at controlling deforestation and launching large-scale conservation projects. Collaboration between environmental and tourism departments could further enhance both conservation efforts and tourism. About 34.8% of respondents believe that natural greenery and vegetation in urban areas have improved in recent years and expressed a desire for more greenery during future visits. This study concludes that the preservation of natural green spaces plays a vital role in fostering eco-tourism and contributes to the national economy. Ensuring their continued conservation will provide long-term benefits for both the environment and the tourism sector.

Abstract Expansion of impervious surface area (ISA) in urbanizing regions often leads to vegetation area losses, a direct impact of urbanization. Many activities driven by economic growth, population increases, targeted urban greening investments, environmental policies, and major sports events change vegetation composition, structure, and function, leading to substantial indirect (positive or negative) impacts on vegetation in urban area. In this study, we analyzed the spatial‐temporal dynamics of ISA, enhanced vegetation index (EVI), and gross primary production (GPP) in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD), China, over 2000–2020. Positive indirect impacts of urbanization on EVI and GPP surged after 2011, coinciding with China's Ecological Civilization Strategy. The concurrent increases of ISA, EVI, and GPP in the YRD provide an example for our society to work and advance the UN's Sustainable Development Goal #11, “Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.”

This study aims to analyze the green infrastructure in an urban area of ​​the city of Florianópolis/SC regarding the quality of life of people aged 90 or over, focusing on the presence of vegetation around the homes of the elderly. The research employed a bibliographic review and photographic survey carried out in February and June 2024. The study fills a gap in the literature by specifically examining the suitability of green infrastructure for nonagenarians, a group often neglected in urban research. The results indicate that, although some areas have adequate sidewalks, the lack of trees along the paths compromises the comfort and safety of the elderly. The presence of green squares is beneficial, but does not replace the need for vegetation on access routes. The study contributes to the understanding of the importance of integrating green infrastructure into urban planning for the elderly population and suggests that urban design should consider green connectivity. Socially, the research highlights the importance of creating more inclusive urban environments for nonagenarians, promoting a better quality of life. Environmentally, it suggests expanding vegetation in urban areas to offer direct benefits to the elderly and the community in general.

Urbanisation and urban sprawl are major drivers of global habitat transformation and biodiversity loss. Natural vegetation in urban areas is confined to remnant patches and, as a result, the conservation of these patches of vegetation is becoming increasingly important for biodiversity conservation. Globally grasslands experience high rates of transformation and are threatened by expanding urban areas, causing fragmentation, and facilitating the spread of invasive species. This study explores how above- and belowground vegetation communities within remnant grassland patches vary as a function of patch connectivity and patch size in the City of Tshwane, Gauteng, South Africa. We sampled twelve sites from eleven nature reserves within Tshwane to investigate the relationships between urbanisation and vegetation characteristics. Tshwane’s grassland patches have high levels of invasion, with alien species making up a considerable portion of both standing (13% richness and a third of cover) and seed bank vegetation (31% richness and 26% abundance). Furthermore, we found low similarity between standing vegetation and the seed bank (mean ± SD = 0.25 ± 0.06). Neither road density nor reserve size were related to the total cover or richness of vascular plants, nor the cover or richness of alien species. Similarly, neither variable predicted above-belowground similarity. This suggests that the connectivity of remnant grassland patches does not have any significant effect on vegetation characteristics in this disturbed urban environment. Our results indicate that restoration relying only on natural revegetation from the seed bank is unlikely to be effective and we suggest that active restoration interventions, such as reseeding and invasive species control, may be needed to restore these grasslands and improve their long-term conservation value.

The development of research-based approaches to the greening of cities built in the cryolithic zone was caused by the urbanization of USSR regions located in the Arctic and Subarctic climate. Over the past decades, the relevance of these approaches has been increasing due to the need for measures aimed at ensuring new standards of landscaping and environmental well-being of cities in the Russian Arctic. The main aim of this article is an integrated analysis of archival documents and scientific publications reflecting the evolution of research approaches and knowledge pertaining to the problems of greening cities built in the cryolithic zone of Western and Central Siberia in the period from the 1930s to the first quarter of the 21st century. The article describes the first attempts at greening the Arctic cities of Siberia made in the 1930s — 1950s and discusses approaches to zoning the green infrastructure of Arctic cities that have been developed in Russian science. The problems of studying the interaction of permafrost and vegetation in urban areas are analyzed. Based on examples of Siberian cities the paper examines problems of developing green infrastructure during the period of active urbanization of the Russian Arctic in the 1970s — 1980s. A brief overview is given of new approaches to urban greening in the Arctic cities in the first quarter of the 21st century. It is concluded that in recent decades, in most of the cities studied, there has been a trend towards a rise in vegetation characteristics such as NDVI and tree height compared with areas that have been left untouched. Researchers attribute this trend to factors such as regular planting of new trees and shrubs, targeted maintenance of green spaces, as well as the presence of urban heat islands and other favorable microclimatic conditions. It is concluded that such common factors as climate warming, an active introduction of alien plants into the urbanized environment and using new technologies for the improvement of northern cities contribute to the growth of opportunities for the development of the cities’ green infrastructure. At the same time, cryogenic processes and the way green infrastructure is developed in an urbanized environment are largely interdependent.

: Urban forest is a plant vegetation in urban areas that provides maximum environmental benefits such as, protection, aesthetics, recreation, and other specific uses. Linara City Forest is one of the urban forests in Metro City. Surveys of fern diversity have never been carried out in this area. Ferns are plants that can live in a variety of environments, both terrestrial, epiphytic and aquatic. This study aimed to conduct an initial survey of the diversity of species, number, and the ecological role of ferns in the Linara City Forest. The data collected by used exploratory method with random sampling points. The data collected was then analyzed qualitatively. The results of this preliminary study showed that there were 8 species of ferns, Pyrrosia pilloselloides, Adiantum trapeziforme, Platyercium bifurcatum, Lygodium palmatum, Pnemuatopteris pennigera, Nephrolepis cordifolia, Gymnocarpium dynopteris, Adiantum raddianum. The most common fern species found in Linara City forest in this study was Pneumatopteris pennigera (117 individuals). Ecologically, ferns function as litter mixters for the formation of soil nutrients, producers in the food chain, habitat for some animals, especially insects, protect the soil from erosion and can maintain soil moisture.

The analysis of the complex interactions between outdoor or indoor greenness and the health of individuals and ecosystems is a topic of current and growing interest. This review aims to examine and summarise the results of studies conducted to evaluate the effects of exposure to greenness on various aspects of human health and the natural environment. For this purpose, in April 2024 we searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases, Google Scholar and specialised books. Evidence gathered demonstrates a remarkable correlation between exposure to outdoor and indoor greenness and the improvement of mental health, including the reduction of stress, anxiety, and depression. Contact with greenness is also associated with improvements in physical health, such as reductions in blood pressure, heart rate, and inflammation, as well as in cognitive abilities, concentration, and overall recovery. These benefits are recognisable both in outdoor spaces, such as urban parks, oases, and public gardens, and in indoor spaces, through the introduction of plants and nature-evoking elements in living and working environments. The presence of vegetation in indoor environments, such as offices, schools, healthcare facilities, prisons, and others, can contribute to improving the quality of social spaces, fostering communication, and collaboration, and attenuating aggressiveness and inequalities, thereby increasing employee satisfaction and work efficiency. The combination of outdoor/indoor green spaces and the well-being of the living environment includes exposure to greater biodiversity, mitigation of extreme weather events, absorption of atmospheric pollutants, attenuation of urban background noise, and increased privacy. The presence of vegetation in urban areas has a positive impact on social cohesion, promoting interpersonal interaction and facilitating the development of more cohesive and inclusive communities, thus supporting a sense of belonging and collective identity. In conclusion, these results underline the importance of considering contact with greenness as a fundamental element in promoting the psychophysical health and well-being of individuals and ecosystems, suggesting the adoption of nature-based therapies and interventions in public health policies and urban planning practices.

ABSTRACTRiparian vegetation is important for biodiversity, creates habitat for various fauna and provides vital ecosystem services such as flow regulation, water filtration, uptake, transformation and cycling of minerals, nutrients and organic matter. These ecological functions and processes contribute to the health of waterways. In many urban and semiurban areas, riparian vegetation is subject to degradation pressures such as land clearing for urban development, altered hydrological regimes due to modified catchment land cover and runoff patterns and other human‐induced disturbances. Monitoring riparian vegetation cover and condition is vital for informing effective management. This can be achieved via detailed field assessment; however, this is often costly, time and labour intensive and extremely difficult to undertake across large regions such as an entire stream network. This study examines the utility of medium‐resolution Sentinel‐2 satellite imagery for monitoring riparian vegetation across the Greater Melbourne region, Australia. The paper demonstrates several examples of how spectral trends from Sentinel‐2 imagery (2019–2023) can be used to provide insights, which are expected to improve over time as more data become available. We also assessed the potential of combining Sentinel‐2 imagery with field observations to model riparian vegetation conditions. Using 425 field observations and a series of Sentinel‐2–derived predictor variables, a Random Forest regression model was developed to model riparian vegetation condition. The model explained 53% of the variance in the data. Although the spatial resolution of Sentinel‐2 (10 m) is a limitation when working with narrow riparian vegetation corridors, our methods demonstrate it can be used to help prioritise areas for protection and/or enhancement and identify areas that may be at risk of further degradation. This can assist waterway managers to prioritise field activities such as restoration and revegetation, and the control of key weeds and browsing animals.

The coastal region of Ceará is called the Coastal Zone Vegetation Complex, due to the variety of plants present, including species from the Cerrado, Caatinga, Atlantic Forest, Amazon Rainforest and Restinga. Fragments of this vegetation in urban areas are fundamental for ecosystem services, including climate regulation, biodiversity conservation and resource provision. Given the importance of these fragments, the aim was to characterize the reproductive phenological patterns of the Itaperi Campus of the State University of Ceará, using circular statistics. We compiled 318 exsiccates of 184 species collected from 1988 to 2023, available in the herbarium of the Natural History Museum of Ceará Prof. Dias da Rocha and on the SpeciesLink platform. The Rayleigh test showed that flowering (r= 0.95) and fruiting (r= 0.98) were seasonal, concentrated between June and August, with July being the average date. Despite the seasonality, flowers and fruit are available every month of the year, making it an important resource for local and migratory fauna. The data from the herbariums has also enabled a monthly calendar to be drawn up, which could support other research and scientific and educational activities that depend on the collection of specific reproductive material. The lack of correlation between flowering and fruiting and monthly rainfall suggests new directions for research, which should consider the availability of water in the soil and analysis at the population level.

The aim of the present study is to examine the impact of Madrid's urban growth over the last 50 years (1970–2020). We conduct a modelling study using WRF-ARW with the multilayer urban parameterization BEP-BEM, in which different urban parameters have been incorporated at each point within the model's inner domain according to urban expansion from 1970 to 2020. Two scenarios of important societal interest with different meteorological conditions are selected for this study: a period of intense heatwave during the summer season and a short period of strongly stable atmospheric conditions in winter, both in 2020. The results show that in areas where the urban fraction becomes greater an increase in near-surface air temperature is found for both simulated periods, especially during the night. The urbanization modifies the surface energy balance and turbulent transport in Madrid and its surroundings. It leads to a decrease in latent heat flux due to the high impermeability and reduced vegetation in urban areas. Additionally, the urban areas with a higher density of buildings have a high heat capacity, increasing heat flux storage during the day through solar radiation absorption. This stored energy is released at night, exacerbating the increase in nighttime near-surface air temperature in both periods.

Moderate Red-Edge vegetation index for High-Resolution multispectral remote sensing images in urban areas

This paper discusses the spread of the Mediterranean plant Catapodium rigidum (L.) C.E. Hubb. in Hungary, which is found in the transition zone between the sub-Mediterranean and continental climatic zones of Central Europe. This alien species has been found at 12 new localities in Hungary in recent years. Some of these stands are located along main roads, while others are found in urban weed vegetation. The species was most likely introduced by increasing road traffic and tourism. Our preliminary findings suggest that the spread of the species is not concentrated along main roads due to its salt sensitivity. Instead, it is more likely to be found in xerothermic weed vegetation in urban areas where salting and winter de-icing are not applied.

The increasing demand for leafy vegetables in urban areas has emphasized the need for sustainable and space-efficient farming practices. This study investigates the effects of organic Fish Amino Acid (FAA) fertilizer on the growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) using a vertical farming (VF) system. Lettuce seedlings were treated with varying concentrations of FAA fertilizer: 0 mL (control), 25.5 mL, 30.5 mL, and 35.5 mL per application. Growth parameters, including plant height and leaf count, were recorded over five weeks. The FAA was prepared via fermentation of catfish (Clarias spp.) waste with molasses. Results showed that lettuce treated with 30.5 mL FAA exhibited optimal growth with significant increases in height and leaf number compared to other treatments. The study concludes that FAA at 30.5 mL is a promising alternative to chemical fertilizers in enhancing lettuce growth under limited-space cultivation like VF systems.

Palaran is a sub-district in Samarinda City, East Kalimantan Province, with an area of approximately 221.29 km2. Palaran Sub-District is a place for various activities of residents and other areas around Samarinda City. These activities caused Palaran Sub-District to develop rapidly. The increasing need for housing is the cause of the conversion of green land as a vegetation area to other functions. Land conversion will increase along with population growth. The existence of vegetation in urban areas as green open space has many benefits, one of which is producing clean air. Apart from being an important element, vegetation also ensures that the ecosystem is not disturbed. The aim of this research is to determine changes in Vegetation Density in Palaran Sub-District and to determine the extent of changes in Vegetation Density in Palaran Sub-District. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) method is used to analyze changes in vegetation density by utilizing Sentinel-2 imagery data recorded in 2019, 2020 and 2021. The results of the research are maps of changes in vegetation density and the magnitude of changes that occurred in Palaran Sub-District in 2019, 2020, 2021. Changes in density of high, medium, low, very low and non-vegetated vegetation from 2019 to 2021 respectively covering an area of 925.76 Ha, -160.52 Ha, -270.24 Ha, -654. 20 Ha, and 159.20 Ha. There was an increase in the density of high and unvegetated vegetation, as well as a decrease in the density of medium, low and very low vegetation. It is hoped that this information can be used as supporting data in efforts to control land conversion to maintain spatial planning and carrying capacity that is beneficial to the community

The excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture poses threats to ecosystems and human health. To mitigate these risks, researchers have turned their attention to pesticide-free production methods. This study aimed to assess the market opportunities for pesticide-free vegetables (PFVs) through determining consumers’ preferences and willingness to pay (WTP), along with identifying factors influencing consumers' WTP decision in three major cities of the country, namely Dhaka, Khulna, and Mymensingh. Employing a multistage cluster sampling method, 150 samples were selected and data collection utilized the android-based app Kobo through direct interviews. The contingent valuation method (CVM) and double-bounded dichotomous choice model (DBDC) were used to estimate WTP and preferences while ordered logit model were employed to identify influencing factors. The findings indicated that over 90% of consumers in Mymensingh and over 92% in Dhaka and Khulna were willing to pay a premium for pesticide-free tomatoes and brinjal. Additionally, more than 18% and 19% of consumers expressed willingness to pay a 20% premium for brinjal and tomato, while over 39% were willing to pay for both a 10% premium. The study revealed that factors such as age, sex, education, household size, and income significantly influenced consumers’ WTP decisions, with age showing a negative correlation, while education and income were positively associated with interest in consuming pesticide-free vegetables. Overall, the study underscores the increasing demand for pesticide-free vegetables in urban areas, emphasizing the need for governments and stakeholders to develop supportive policies for sustainable market development. Res. Agric. Livest. Fish. Vol. 11, No. 1, April 2024: 69-77

Urbanization has led to significant environmental and societal challenges, including the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect and nutritional insecurity. Kitchen gardening, also known as urban horticulture, emerges as a promising solution to these pressing issues. By cultivating food in urban settings, individuals and families contribute to a more sustainable and resilient ecosystem. The practice of kitchen gardening plays a pivotal role in managing the UHI effect. Vegetation in urban areas helps moderate temperature extremes, reducing the heat retained by concrete and asphalt. This cooling effect contributes to lower energy consumption for air conditioning, mitigating urban pollution and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the proximity of urban gardens to residential areas decreases the need for transportation of produce, further cutting down on pollution and energy usage associated with food distribution. From a nutritional standpoint, kitchen gardening ensures food security by providing a direct source of fresh, healthy produce. This practice aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including zero hunger (SDG2), good health and well-being (SDG3), and responsible consumption and production (SDG12). Urban horticulture empowers individuals to take control of their food sources, promoting a balanced diet and reducing dependence on industrial-scale farming. Furthermore, it creates opportunities for community engagement and economic growth, supporting decent work and economic growth (SDG8) and sustainable cities and communities (SDG11). Kitchen gardening is a multifaceted approach that addresses both environmental and nutritional challenges. Its benefits extend beyond individual households, contributing to broader sustainability goals and fostering a more harmonious relationship between urban development and the environment.

Food system challenges exacerbate inequalities in access to fresh healthy food and threaten food security. Lack of food security, referred to as food insecurity, is associated with poorer physical and mental health outcomes and has been identified as a key challenge to address by calls for food system transformation. Increasing food production through urban agriculture, the production of fruit and vegetables in urban areas, has been identified as a potentially effective contributor to food system transformation, but the effect of this on household or UK-level food security is unclear. This paper reviews international evidence of urban agriculture's impact on food security. Narrative review. This paper reviews international evidence of urban agriculture's impact on food security. Previously published international research. Whilst findings are mixed, available evidence suggests that urban agriculture makes a modest, yet positive, contribution to food security by facilitating the availability of and access to fresh fruit and vegetables to food insecure households. Capitalising on the potential for urban agriculture to benefit food security requires government investment and support at both the national and local levels; therefore, increasing access to land for food growing, reducing costs of related resources and collaboration with existing community groups to enhance sharing of skills and expertise are identified as avenues for exploration that may help to achieve this. This review also highlights opportunities for future research in this field that may strengthen the quality of the evidence supporting urban agriculture's impact on food security.

Accurate estimating of above-ground biomass (AGB) of vegetation in urbanized areas is essential for urban ecosystem services. NASA’s Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) mission can obtain precise terrestrial vegetation structure, which is very useful for AGB estimation in large forested areas. However, the spatial heterogeneity and sparse distribution of vegetation in urban areas lead to great uncertainty in AGB estimation. This study proposes a method for estimating vegetation heights by fusing GEDI laser observations with features extracted from optical images. GEDI is utilized to extract the accurate vegetation canopy height, and the optical images are used to compensate for the spatial incoherence of GEDI. The correlation between the discrete vegetation heights of GEDI observations and image features is constructed using Random Forest (RF) to obtain the vegetation canopy heights in all vegetated areas, thus estimating the AGB. The results in Xuzhou of China using GEDI observations and image features from Sentinel-2 and Landsat-8 satellites indicate that: (1) The method of combining GEDI laser observation data with optical images is effective in estimating AGB, and its estimation accuracy (R2 = 0.58) is higher than that of using only optical images (R2 = 0.45). (2) The total AGB in the shorter vegetation region is higher than the other two in the broadleaf forest and the coniferous forest, but the AGB per unit area is the lowest in the shorter vegetation area at 33.60 Mg/ha, and it is the highest in the coniferous forest at 46.60 Mg/ha. And the highest average AGB occurs in October–December at 59.55 Mg/ha in Xuzhou. (3) The near-infrared band has a greater influence on inverted AGB, followed by textural features. Although more precise information about vegetation should be considered, this paper provides a new method for the AGB estimation and also a way for the evaluation and utilization of urban vegetation space.

The study examines the problem of the influence of vehicle emissions on the condition of soils and vegetation of roadside strips in the cities of the Irkutsk agglomeration. Sampling was carried out near intersections characterized by intense traffic flows. As a result of a mass (semi-quantitative) full spectral analysis of selected samples, the content of heavy metals in them was revealed to be higher than the maximum permissible and background concentrations. Calculations of the total pollution indicator were carried out, which made it possible to establish that the soils of roadside zones in urbanized areas of the agglomeration belong to the categories “dangerous” and “extremely dangerous”. Recommendations for improving the geoecological condition of soils and vegetation in urban areas are given.

Потепління у містах і формування міських островів тепла є проблемами, які набувають все більшого значення. Постійне скорочення рослинності в міських районах, посилення екстремальних погодних умов і тенденція глобального потепління створюють серйозні проблеми для майбутніх міських районів. Екстенсивні зелені дахи вносять значний внесок у зменшення та затримку сильного дощового стоку, зв’язують пил, покращують якість повітря, зменшують шумове забруднення, створюють додаткові відкриті простори та охолоджують будівлі та міський простір через випаровування. Потепління у містах значною мірою пов’язане із втратою рослинного покриву. Висновок, що використання дощової води, зокрема, має сенс як внесок у міське с дощовою водою. Міське водне господарство має велике економічне значення, яке суттєво впливає та формує сучасне суспільство. Відповідальність за забезпечення достатньої кількості питної води гігієнічно ідеальної якості в довгостроковій перспективі лежить на муніципальному водному господарстві. Очищення стічних вод і їх повторне введення в навколишнє середовище є частиною сфери відповідальності у контексті сталого розвитку міст та подальшої євроінтеграції. Адже зелені дахи, це шлях до підвищення загальної економічної та екологічної ефективності, на ряду з вищевказаними перевагами. Відчуття безпеки через захист від повеней у населених пунктах та інфраструктурі є гарним прикладом цього. Важливість озеленення дахів як важливого компоненту адаптованого до клімату міського планування також на вустах серед європейських архітекторів, екологів, ландшафтних дизайнерів, політиків. Потрібно запитати себе, чому, незважаючи на це, нічого не відбувається в цьому напрямку в Україні. Бо нам не вистачає «законодавчих рішень в зеленій індустрії», бо не має нормативних вказівок для сфери «озеленення даху, фасаду та внутрішніх приміщень».