scholarly journals Urban Green Areas and Woody Plant Composition: Dwelling Space Quality Factor in the Klokočina Housing Estate

2021 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-90
Author(s):  
Mária Bihuňová ◽  
Ján Supuka ◽  
Attila Tóth ◽  
Karol Šinka ◽  
Gabriel Kuczman
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Woody Plant ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Housing Estate ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Green Area ◽  
Green Areas

Abstract The environment of a city is influenced by global and local climate changes, pollution load from transport, industry and local heat sources. Green spaces as part of the urban green infrastructure fulfil multiple ecosystem services and improve the environmental and residential quality of a city. The level of positive effects of green spaces depends on their area, distribution within the city and the proportion of trees. The aim of the paper was to evaluate land cover structure in a selected segment of the housing estate Klokočina in Nitra, Slovakia. The evaluation focused on the share of biologically active and inactive surfaces, as well as the parameters of woody plant structure in green spaces. Green areas account for 58.70%, while built-up areas, parking lots and roads cover in total 41.30%. Biologically inactive anthropogenic horizontal and of building envelope areas represent 67.30%. Biologically active green areas represent 32.70%. The share of areas with tree crown overlap on horizontal areas is 20.82%, other areas are paved surfaces or grassland. We calculated the indices of the quality of green spaces from the individual categories of areas: proportional green area index (PGAI), effective green area index (EGAI) and tree shade index (TSI). The tree species composition consists of 36 deciduous and 11 coniferous tree species, and 20 shrub species. We evaluated the biometric traits of trees as the tree height, crown width, stem girth and tree vitality class (TVC). The correlations between tree traits were statistically tested with a significant result. In the group of biologically active areas of greenery, we propose to increase the proportion of trees, to establish more natural lawns and xerophyte flower beds. In the category of inactive areas, we propose the reconstruction of parking lots to grass paved surfaces.

scholarly journals Evidences of plant blindness in a Brazilian urban green space with plaqued trees

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (43) ◽  
pp. e151370
Author(s):  
Matheus Colli-Silva ◽  
Ana Clara Salama Corsi ◽  
Jônatas De Jesus Florentino ◽  
Lui Agostinho Teixeira ◽  
Suzana Ursi
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Green Space ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
Paulo State ◽  
Green Area ◽  
Urban Green Area ◽  
Different Types

Plant blindness is a recurrent issue in many urban green spaces. As an element of biodiversity perception, it is socially and individually determined. This paper brings up evidences of plant blindness through a quali-quantitative analysis of 49 interviews on an urban green area of the São Paulo state whose several trees have been recently plaqued. Respondents were not able to correctly identify plant elements and undervalued richness of different types of plants. Despite pointing out the necessity of green spaces in improving quality of life, respondents underestimated the importance of maintaining not only a green space, but a biodiverse one. We discuss the perception of a “good” green space is less associated with species richness, and more with passers-by expectations on a green space and with an innate plant blindness. We suppose informative plaques may play a role in reduce plant blindness, since plaques individualize plants that were once seen as components of a monotonous green landscape.

scholarly journals ICMS Ecológico

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matheus Maramaldo Andrade Silva ◽  
Maria do Carmo Lima Bezerra
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Financial Incentives ◽  
Conservation Units ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Current Period ◽  
Green Area ◽  
Urban Green Area ◽  
Green Areas ◽  
Regulatory Instruments

The Urban Green Areas System (UGAS) performs relevant functions for the quality of life by making cities healthier, which has become even more necessary in the current period of pandemic. However, even with these benefits, the practice of urban management indicates difficulties not only in the implementation, but also in the maintenance of the UGAS. One of the aspects that may explain the challenge of implementing and maintaining green areas in cities is the absence of regulatory instruments and financial incentives that support this system. In this line, in order to contribute to this discussion, one of the instruments that proved to be effective in environmental management will be studied, in this case for the creation and implementation of Conservation Units: the “ICMS Ecológico”. This article will study the characteristics of the UGAS associated with ecological and urban functions; the logic of adopting the “ICMS Ecológico” and will seek to define criteria that can be used for the implementation of a UGAS that prioritizes ecosystem thinking associated with the function of urban health. We started with the discussion about the mechanisms for adopting the “ICMS Ecológico” and followed the analysis of the standards established in the states for its application. As a result, it was found that there are similarities that can be applied to an implementation in the urban green area systems, which allowed the recommendation of criteria that can be used as a reference for the application of the “ICMS Ecológico” to support the UGAS and the promotion of healthier cities.

scholarly journals Distribution of urban green spaces: Comparative analysis between cities in different countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-19
Author(s):  
Cecília Souza Gontijo Garcia ◽  
Patrícia Duarte de Oliveira Paiva ◽  
Jules Bruck ◽  
Rafael de Brito Sousa
Keyword(s):  
Life Quality ◽  
Local Environment ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
Minas Gerais State ◽  
Municipal Law ◽  
The City

Abstract The presence of urban green spaces (UGS) increases the human’s contact with nature and provides numerous benefits to the society and the local environment. In this way, analyzing, planning and stimulating the implementation of UGS in cities is a fundamental action to improve the life quality of urban society. In this context, the aim was to analyze the situation and distribution of the green spaces of the universities cities of Lavras, Minas Gerais State (Brazil) and Newark, Delaware (USA). For data collection, researches performed field visits and used aerial photography to survey and analysis before calculating indicators including green area index (GAI) and green space ratio (GSR). The city of Lavras has a GAI of 0.54 m2 inh-1. The GSR value was 0.29%, not meeting the minimum of 5% required by local municipal law. Furthermore, there is a bad distribution of UGSs in the urban framework. However, in Newark, the distribution of UGSs is homogeneous and covers all regions of the city. The calculated GAI was 50.2 m² inh-1 and the GSR has met the 7% minimum required by its Newark Municipal Law. When comparing the two cities, in different countries and conditions it is concluded that Newark (DE) presents UGS indicators, GAI (m² inh-1) and GSR (%), higher than the values obtained in Lavras (MG), indicating the need for Government actions to increase these values.

scholarly journals The Socioeconomic Welfare of Urban Green Areas and Parks; A Literature Review of Available Evidence

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 7863
Author(s):  
Antonios Kolimenakis ◽  
Alexandra D. Solomou ◽  
Nikolaos Proutsos ◽  
Evangelia V. Avramidou ◽  
Evangelia Korakaki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Urban Policy ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Exclusion Criteria ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
Urban Green Areas ◽  
Green Areas

Urban green areas present a lucid example for the harmonious co-existence of the artificial and natural environments best illustrated by their interdependence and interconnection in urban spaces. Urban green areas are essential for the health and wellbeing of citizens. The present study aimed to investigate those multiple benefits for citizens that arise through the existence of urban green areas, as well as important policy dimensions that should be considered when designing the expansion of urban green spaces in urban development. The study was based on a literature review to examine for available evidence on the benefit levels derived by the existence of urban green areas. An extended literature review was followed by a structured review, based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, which partly followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The search was conducted in two databases, and a total of 1674 articles and abstracts were identified through the database searches. After removing 114 duplicates, 1560 records were initially screened based on title and abstract. Following inclusion and exclusion criteria, 14 articles were incorporated in the structured review and a total of 47 in the extended review. The extended literature review identified 33 additional articles examining aspects of benefits that did not fall under the pre-established inclusion and exclusion criteria used in the structured review, such as health benefits and other social parameters associated with urban green spaces. The selected studies were allocated in five principal groups according to study types: three of the them consisted of studies employing “willingness to pay” (WTP) methods, five were based on property values, two studies assigned monetary values, while another two assigned CO2 values, and, finally, two studies were based on qualitative criteria. The results indicated benefits to citizens and increased welfare levels gained by the existence of urban green areas. The conducted review revealed a number of findings and recommendations that could direct future research and urban policy. Those hints could assist local authorities as well as stakeholders in order to measure and assess the benefits of green spaces and urban parks and promote measures and programs to assist their further deployment.

scholarly journals Practical Functioning of a Sustainable Urban Complex with a Park—The Case Study of Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in Athens

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 5071
Author(s):  
Beata Makowska
Keyword(s):  
Urban Space ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Cultural Center ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
Urban Complex

Intensive urban development has created a shortage of urban green areas. The need to economically plan and use urban green spaces has fueled the redefinition of public spaces and parks so as to provide the residents with both recreation and relaxation facilities, as well as a forum for contact with culture. This paper discusses the case of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC) in the Kallithea district on the outskirts of Athens, near the Mediterranean Sea. It fills a gap in the research on the aspects of the practical functioning of such facilities. The methodology used in the research included an analysis of the literature, the SNFCC’s reports, and an in situ survey. The cultural center hosts a number of events aimed at promoting Greece’s natural and cultural heritage. The paper includes a detailed analysis of the events organized by the SNFCC in the period 2017–2020 and their immense impact on residents. The aim of the study is to show that the creation of the SNFCC with the park areas has functioned as a factor contributing to the improvement of the quality of urban space and the quality of life of the city’s inhabitants. The paper’s conclusions indicate that the sustainable SNFCC project, which fulfils the urban ecology criteria, has been very well received by the visitors—citizens and tourists alike. A program-centered innovation introduced by the SN Park has added great value to their lives. The project contributes to economic and cultural growth, as well as the protection and promotion of heritage.

Quality of urban green spaces influences residents’ use of these spaces, physical activity, and overweight/obesity

2021 ◽  
Vol 271 ◽  
pp. 116393
Author(s):  
Pablo Knobel ◽  
Roser Maneja ◽  
Xavier Bartoll ◽  
Lucia Alonso ◽  
Mariska Bauwelinck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces

Dynamic evaluation of small urban green areas at local level using GEOBIA

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana-Maria Popa ◽  
Diana Andreea Onose ◽  
Ionut Cosmin Sandric ◽  
Simona Raluca Gradinaru ◽  
Athanasios Alexandru Gavrilidis
Keyword(s):  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Consumption Pattern ◽  
Urbanization Process ◽  
Dynamic Evaluation ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Areas ◽  
Green Areas

<p>Urban green infrastructure has various benefits known as ecosystem services such as regulating, cultural, provisioning and supporting services. Among the provided benefits there are decrease of air temperature, increasing humidity and mitigating urban heat island as regulating services; human-nature relations as cultural services; improving air quality, carbon sequestration as provisioning services and photosynthesis, nutrient and water cycling as supporting services. The high intensity of the urbanization process across the last decades coupled with weak legislative frameworks resulted both in large areas affected by urban sprawl and densification of the existing urban fabric. Both phenomenon generated loss in open spaces, especially green areas. In the context of the sustainable urbanization promoted by HABITAT Agenda, the knowledge related with the distribution, size and quality of urban green areas represents a priority. The study aim is to identify small urban green areas at local level at different time moments for a dynamic evaluation. We focused on small urban green areas since they are scarcely analysed even if their importance for the urban quality of life Is continuously increasing given the urbanization process. We used satellite imagery acquired by Planet Satellite Constellations, with a spatial resolution of 3.7 m and daily coverage, for extracting green areas. The images were processed using Geographic Object-Based Image Analysis (OBIA) techniques implemented in Esri ArcGIS Pro. The spatial analysis we performed generated information about distribution, surfaces, quality (based on NDVI) and dynamic of small urban green areas. The results are connected with the local level development of the urban areas we analysed, but also with the population consumption pattern for leisure services, housing, transport or other public utilities. The analysis can represent a complementary method for extracting green areas at urban level and can support the data collection for calculating urban sustainability indicators.</p>

scholarly journals As paisagens coexistenciais interespecíficas, ou sobre humanos e não-humanos compartilhando espaços domésticos numa cidade amazônica

ILUMINURAS ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (42) ◽  
Author(s):  
Flávio Leonel Abreu da Silveira
Keyword(s):  
Interspecific Interactions ◽  
Urban Wildlife ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Theoretical Discussion ◽  
Domestic Cats ◽  
Living Space ◽  
Green Area ◽  
Green Areas ◽  
The City

O artigo propõe uma discussão teórica acerca das paisagens coexistenciais interespecíficas na urbe, voltando-se especialmente à morada humana. Esta é percebida como o lugar da convivência entre humanos e não-humanos – também se considera o seu entorno, onde aparecem os quintais/pomares e os espaços verdes habitados pela fauna silvestre urbana. A coexistência interespecífica contribui para a diversidade na conformação das paisagens citadinas, sendo que as ambiências domésticas – a localidade do espaço habitado/lócus da experiência íntima – permitem a humanos e não-humanos o compartilhamento de uma vida juntos a partir de diferentes formas de interações simbólico-práticas. As áreas verdes revelam-se lugares de interações interespecíficas diversas na urbe, figurando enquanto espaços de contato. Para as reflexões que proponho realizar, parto de minha experiência de coabitação com gatos domésticos e de meu ofício de etnógrafo que pesquisa as relações entre humanos e não-humanos em uma área verde na cidade de Belém (PA) na Amazônia.Palavras-chave: Paisagens. Cidade. Habitat. Animais. Áreas verdes. Interespécies.The Coexistent and Interspecific Landscapes or About Humans and Nonhumans Sharing Domestics Places in an Amazonian City  AbstractThe paper proposes a theoretical discussion about the coexistent and interspecific landscapes at the urbis, regarding, specially, the human shelter. This is perceived as a place of coexistence between humans and nonhumans – its surroundings where there are yards/orchards and green spaces inhabited by urban wildlife is also considered. The interspecific coexistence contributes to the diversity in shaping cityscapes and the domestic ambiences - the location of the living space/locus of intimate experience - allow human and nonhuman sharing a life together, founded on different forms of symbolic and practical interactions. The green areas turn up in places of diverse and interspecific interactions at the urbis, constituting spaces of contact. Aiming at these reflections, I consider my own coexistence experience with domestic cats and my work as an ethnographer who studies the relationships between human and nonhumans in a green area in the city of Belém (PA) in Amazon.Key words: Landscapes. City. Habitat. Animals. Green areas. Interspecies.

scholarly journals The Legacy Effects of Colonial and Apartheid Imprints on Urban Greening in South Africa: Spaces, Species, and Suitability

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlie M. Shackleton ◽  
N. Gwedla
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Urban Form ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Space Distribution ◽  
Legacy Effects ◽  
Urban Greening ◽  
Urban Nature ◽  
Urban Green

Colonialism is a significant legacy across most aspects of urban form, the nature and distribution of public green spaces, and tree species composition in many cities of the Global South. However, the legacy effects of colonialism on urban green infrastructure and the uses thereof have only recently come under scrutiny. Here we collate information from South Africa on urban greening and interpret it through a colonial and apartheid legacy lens in relation to the distribution and types of urban nature found and their resonance with contemporary needs as an African country. The analysis indicates marked inequalities in public green space distribution and quality between neighborhoods designated for different race groups during the colonial and apartheid periods, which continues to be reproduced by the post-colonial (and post-apartheid) state. Additionally, in the older, former colonial neighborhoods non-native tree species dominate in parks and streets, with most of the species having been introduced during the colonial period. Such colonial introductions have left a burdensome legacy of invasive species that costs billions of Rands annually to keep in check. Lastly, the forms of nature and activities provided in public urban green spaces remains reminiscent of the colonial norm, with little recognition of African worldviews, identity and needs. We conclude in emphasizing the necessity for urban authorities and planners to address these anachronistic legacies through adopting a more inclusive and co-design approach with respect to the extent, location and types of urban nature provided, as well as the types of cultural symbols and activities permitted and promoted.

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