scholarly journals Effects of Adjacent Land Use Types on the Composition of Vascular Flora in Urban Forest Ecotones in the Southern Poland

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1440
Author(s):  
Beata Fornal-Pieniak ◽  
Barbara Żarska ◽  
Marcin Ollik

The purpose of the research was the recognition of edge effects regarding similarities and differences of vascular flora in undergrowth layers in the urban forest ecotones. Four types of urban forest neighborhoods were analyzed: ecotones adjacent to the manor park, the agriculture field, housing estates and the road. The plant compositions in the forest ecotones were compared with the plant compositions in the urban forest interior and the forest nature reserve. The phytosociological type of studied forests was a subcontinental oak-hornbeam one (Tilio-Carpinetum). Diagnostic plant species (e.g., characteristic) for forests from the non-diagnostic ones were identified. Forest consistent plant species dominated in the ecotone adjacent to the manor park and in the interior of urban forests too, but the best conditions for these plants were inside the forest nature reserve, where native consistent forest plants showed the highest dominance when comparing all studied areas. A higher anthropogenic pressure from the adjacent areas results in supporting the growth of inconsistent plant species in the forests, and these plants are mostly represented by plants belonging to grass and synanthropic communities. Another conclusion drawn from our research is that the protected forest, represented by a nature reserve in the city, provides better “shelter” for native forest plants than the urban forest without any protection. Ultimately, a permanent challenge is to achieve and maintain the balance between nature and the impact of anthropogenic activities on urban forests in the city. The high quality of green areas, biodiversity, including forests, implicates possibilities of sustainable development in cities. The research results will be useful for local urban planners and ecologists during their work on strategies of city development, including shaping of green infrastructure.

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justyna Jaworek-Jakubska ◽  
Maciej Filipiak ◽  
Adam Michalski ◽  
Anna Napierała-Filipiak

Knowledge about urban forests in Poland is still limited, as it is primarily based on aggregate, formal data relating to the general area, ignoring the spatial dimension and informal green areas. This article describes and analyses spatio-temporal changes in the actual urban forest resources in Wrocław in 1944–2017, which covers the first period of the city’s rebuilding after its destruction during World War II and its development during the nationalised, centrally-planned socialist economy, as well as the second period of intensive and only partly controlled growth under conditions of market economy. The study is based on current and historical orthophotomaps, which were confronted with cartographic data, as well as planning documents. We found that between 1944 and 2017, the percentage contribution of informal woodlands increased tenfold (from 0.5 to 4.9% of the present total area of the city). The area occupied by such forests has grown particularly during the most recent years of the city’s intensive development. However, the forests have been increasingly fragmented. During the first period, new forest areas were also created in the immediate vicinity of the city centre, while during the second one, only in its peripheral sections. The post-war plans regarding the urban green spaces (UGS), including the current plan, are very conservative in nature. On the one hand, this means no interference with the oldest, biggest, and most valuable forest complexes, but on the other hand, insufficient consideration of the intensive built-up area expansion on former agriculture areas. Only to a limited extent did the above-mentioned plans take into account the informal woodlands, which provide an opportunity for strengthening the functional connectivity of landscape.


2021 ◽  
Vol 38 ◽  
pp. 00053
Author(s):  
Mariya Kazantseva ◽  
Sergei Artyomenko

There are 11 plant species of the Orchidaceae family in the city area of Tyumen; eight of them are protected in the Tyumen region, one species is included in the Red Book of Russia. Representatives of the family are found in the urban forest complex, roadside forest belts, on lawns and in public gardens of the central part of the city. Most species are represented locally by single specimens or small groups; three species – Epipactis helleborine, Platanthera bifolia and Neottianthe cucullata can form large complete coenopopulations. The main anthropogenous factors negatively affecting the condition of orchids in the city are: reconstruction of roads and plantations, regular mowing of grass in the habitats of plants. The protection of species requires coordinated efforts of municipal services for the improvement of urban areas and environmental organizations.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hingabu Hordofa Koricho ◽  
Ararsa Derese Seboka ◽  
Shaoxian Song

Abstract Background: The recent urban challenges due to climate change and urban environment deterioration requires proper planning and inventories of urban forests. In this paper, trees and shrub information were used to estimate leaf area/biomass, carbon storage, carbon sequestration, pollution removal, and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, hydrological and functional values of Adama city urban forest. This study was conducted to assess and quantify the ecosystem services of urban forests of Adama city, Central Ethiopia.Results: The result of i-tree Eco model has indicated that the tree species such as Azadirachta indica, Eucalyptus globulus, Carica papaya and Delonix regia sequester high percentage of carbon which is approximately 14.7%, 7.4%, 7.3% and 6.2% of all annually sequestered carbon respectively. Besides, urban forests of the city was estimated to store 116,000 tons of carbon; the most carbons were stored by the species such as Eucalyptus globulus, Azadirachta indica, Carica papaya and Delonix regia that stores approximately 22.1%, 12.3%, 9.5% and 4.2% of all stored carbon respectively. Trees in Adama urban forests were estimated to produce 19.93 thousand tons of oxygen per year. It was estimated that trees and shrubs remove 188.3 thousand tons of air pollution due to O3, CO, NO2, PM2.5 and SO2 per year. In the city, 35 percent of the urban forest's VOC emissions were from Eucalyptus cinerea and Eucalyptus globulus. Besides, the monetary value of Adama urban forest in terms of carbon storage, carbon sequestration, and pollution removal was estimated to 16,588,470 ETB/yr, 118,283 ETB /yr and 12,162,701,080. 9 ETB /yr respectively.Conclusion: Urban forest of Adama city has significant contribution in terms of enhancing woody species diversity and the regulation of urban environment of the study area. From the management and conservation perspectives, urban forests of the study area needs consolidated interventions in terms of tree planting in bare areas and management works. Hence, reliable commitment should be demanded form the key stakeholders such as government, urban foresters and city dwellers.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amélie Duquesne ◽  
Christine Plumejeaud-Perreau ◽  
Jean-Michel Carozza

<p><span>Although many studies have analyzed the impact of human interventions on European rivers over decades or centuries, researchers have rarely evaluated the geomorphological effects of these anthropogenic pressures on fluvial systems. However, quantifying anthropogenic impacts is fundamental to understanding how rivers are affected by human interventions and to improving the river management and restoration. The aim of this study is to propose a new and original qualitative method to estimate the importance of human impacts on rivers over the last three centuries using the middle Charente River as a test case. The study area is an anastomosing, low-energy and little mobile river of the lowlands of Western France. It extends from the city of Angoulême (Charente) to the city of Saintes (Charente-Maritime), with a length of approximately 100 km. The study segment has been subjected to high anthropogenic pressure since the High Middle Ages, and it was enhanced during the 19th century to facilitate navigation and terrestrial transportation, to ensure the exploitation of the water's driving force (water mills and paper mills), to maintain the local people (fishing dams and agro-pastoral uses) and to allow for flood protection. To understand and estimate the anthropogenic heritage of the Charente River, this study employed a two-stage method: 1) an inventory of the human interventions on the fluvial system through the consultation of geo-historical data (textual archives, historical maps and iconography) dating from the end of the 17th century to the 2010s and 2) an evaluation of the human impact of each human intervention, sub-category and category of intervention based on the calculation of the Cumulative Human Impact Index. The Cumulative Human Impact Index is composed of several qualitative attributes graded by an evaluator. The results allow one 1) to generate a database and typology of the human interventions affecting the middle Charente River over the long term; 2) to map the cumulative impacts of human interventions on the study area; and 3) to analyze the unitary and overall impact of each human intervention, sub-category and category of intervention on the river landscape's heritage. Finally, this study concludes with 1) a discussion of the advantages of using a qualitative methodology for the estimation of anthropogenic impacts and 2) a reflection on the use of the maps of cumulative human impacts for Charente River management and restoration.</span></p>


Author(s):  
A. A. Evseeva

The aim of this study is to study the diversity of the ecological-coenotic structure of the field layer of the residual urban forests, using as an example the cities Kaluga and Obninsk, which have different approaches to the conservation of residual forest communities in the city. Obninsk practices the conservation of forest zones that have entered the urban environment as recreational objects, while in Kaluga, such forest communities are in a state of interrupted succession and have experienced forestry activities. The objectives of the study are to study the ecological-coenotic and ecological-biological spectra of the field layer of forest ecosystems, and to identify adventive and protected plant species. The study took place in 2014–2015. In the forest communities under study, 30 sites were selected for geobotanical descriptions by the Braun-Blanquet method at different periods of the growing season (in June and August) to fully cover floristic diversity. A total during the observation period were made 240 floristic descriptions. Kaluga city forests turned out to be more susceptible to negative changes occurring in conditions of recreational for-est management. The field layer of the Kaluga forest recreational zones turned out to be more susceptible to negative changes occurring under the influence of anthropogenic pressure, in comparing with the Obninsk forest recreational zones. This is ex-pressed in the proportion of ecological-coenotic and ecological-biological groups, the presence of a greater number of alien species in the studied communities of Kaluga, which indicates greater resistance to the recreational load of the city forests of Obninsk. For example, the share of the group of forest habitats is much higher in Obninsk, where forest species make up more than half of all types of grass layer (54,2%). In the Kaluga forests, the share of forest habitats is lower and amounted to 47,5%. The discovered difference in the stability of the field layer of the Obninsk forests is presumably due to the strategy of their conservation in the urban area in a state of natural succession. The practical significance of the results obtained can be the possibility of using them to determine the degree of negative changes in recreational forests. The direction of further research can be directed at organizing monitoring of the urban forests of Kaluga and Obninsk according to the state of the field layer


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keunmin Lee ◽  
Je-Woo Hong ◽  
Jeongwon Kim ◽  
Jinkyu Hong

Abstract. Cities represent a key space for our sustainable trajectory in a changing environment, and our society is steadily embracing urban green space for its role in mitigating heatwaves and anthropogenic CO2 emissions. This study reports two-year surface fluxes of energy and CO2 measured via the eddy covariance method in an artificially constructed urban forest to examine the impact of urban forests on air temperature and net CO2 exchange. The urban forest site shows typical seasonal patterns of forest canopies with the seasonal march of the East Asian summer monsoon. Our analysis indicates that the urban forest reduces both the warming trend and urban heat island intensity compared to the adjacent high-rise urban areas and that photosynthetic carbon uptake is large despite relatively small tree density and leaf area index. During the significant drought period in the second year, gross primary production and evapotranspiration decreased, but their reduction was not as significant as those in natural forest canopies. We speculate that forest management practices, such as artificial irrigation and fertilization, enhance vegetation activity. We also stipulate that ecosystem respiration in urban forests is more pronounced than typical natural forests in a similar climate zone. This can be attributed to the substantial amount of soil organic carbon available due to intensive historical soil use and soil transplantation during forest construction, as well as relatively warmer temperatures in urban heat domes. Our observational study also indicates the need for caution in soil management for less CO2 emissions in urban areas.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Martika Dini Syaputri ◽  
Nany Suryawati

AbstractEnvironmental problems in urban areas are a problem that never stops. That every community needs a healthy life, but this seems difficult to become a reality for urban communities because the population continues to increase every year so that land conversion occurs which results in increased air and water pollution. Therefore, the central government hopes that each region or region can provide RTH 30% of the city area. The purpose of this study is to analyze the enforcement of the City Forest Regulations in Surabaya and to find out the efforts of local governments in fulfilling urban forest land in urban areas. This study uses a normative juridical method. As part of RTH, the development of urban forests in Surabaya is very much needed by the community, therefore cooperation between the government and the community is needed in the management and development of urban forests. Fulfillment of urban forest areas in Surabaya can be done by maximizing the form of urban forest that has been regulated based on the City Forest Regulation, either in the form of channels, groups or scattered.Keywords: city forest; green open space; urbanAbstrakMasalah lingkungan hidup diwilayah perkotaan merupakan masalah yang tak kunjung berakhir. Bahwa setiap masyarakat membutuhkan hidup sehat, namun hal tersebut seolah sulit menjadi kenyataan bagi masyarakat perkotaan yang disebabkan karena jumlah penduduk yang tiap tahun meningkat sehingga terjadi pengalihfungsian lahan yang berakibat pada semakin meningkatnya pencemaran udara maupun pencemaran air. Oleh karena itu, pemerintah pusat mengharapkan bagi setiap wilayah atau daerah menyediakan RTH 30% dari luasan kota. Tujuan dilakukannya penelitian ini adalah untuk menganalisa pemberlakuan Perda Hutan Kota di Surabaya serta mengetahui upaya pemerintah daerah dalam memenuhi lahan hutan kota pada wilayah perkotaan. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode yuridis normatif. Sebagai bagian dari RTH, pengembangan hutan kota di Surabaya sangat dibutuhkan oleh masyarakat oleh karenanya diperlukan kerjasama antara pemerintah dengan masyarakat dalam pengelolaan dan pengembangan hutan kota. Pemenuhan luasan hutan kota di Surabaya dapat dilakukan dengan mamaksimalkan bentuk dari hutan kota yang telah diatur berdasarkan pada Perda Hutan Kota, yakni dapat dengan bentuk jelaur, mengelompok maupun menyebar.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (23) ◽  
pp. 17833-17853
Author(s):  
Keunmin Lee ◽  
Je-Woo Hong ◽  
Jeongwon Kim ◽  
Sungsoo Jo ◽  
Jinkyu Hong

Abstract. Cities represent a key space for a sustainable society in a changing environment, and our society is steadily embracing urban green space for its role in mitigating heat waves and anthropogenic CO2 emissions. This study reports 2 years of surface fluxes of energy and CO2 in an artificially constructed urban forest measured by the eddy covariance method to examine the impact of urban forests on air temperature and net CO2 exchange. The urban forest site shows typical seasonal patterns of forest canopies with the seasonal march of the East Asian summer monsoon. This study shows that the urban forest reduces both the warming trend and urban heat island intensity compared to the adjacent high-rise urban areas and that photosynthetic carbon uptake is large despite relatively small tree density and leaf area index. During the significant drought period in the second year, gross primary production and evapotranspiration decreased, but their reduction was not as significant as those in natural forest canopies. We speculate that forest management practices, such as artificial irrigation and fertilization, enhance vegetation activity. Further analysis reveals that ecosystem respiration in urban forests is more pronounced than for typical natural forests in a similar climate zone. This can be attributed to the substantial amount of soil organic carbon due to intensive historical soil use and soil transplantation during forest construction, as well as relatively warmer temperatures in urban heat domes. Our findings suggest the need for caution in soil management when aiming to reduce CO2 emissions in urban areas.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 235
Author(s):  
Agung Permada Yusuf ◽  
Arief Darmawan ◽  
Dian Iswandaru

Urban forest is one form of green open space. Urban forests play an important role in maintaining the sustainability of ecological functions in a city. This role could only run optimally with the availability of urban forests. The purpose of this study is to analyze the status of land ownership and analyze the efforts that can be made in maintaining urban forests. This study used image analysis, interviews, and field observations. From the results of this study, the status of urban forests based on the Mayor of Bandar Lampung Decree in 2010 had different statuses at each location. The urban forest ownership does not exclusively belong to the government. Of the 5 locations, only 1 location owned by the Bandar Lampung City Government, with 1 location that is not recognized (problematic), 1 location did not have a certificate of rights yet, and 2 other locations were private locations. The best effort that could be made to maintain the existence of urban forests is to control urban forest land as ownership in the name of the City Government with the support of certain regulations that can be done. Keywords: land status, urban forest, Lampung


Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 696 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mojca Nastran

By providing ecosystem services, urban forests contribute significantly to the well-being of urban populations. Urban forests, along with other urban green spaces, are often the closest natural environment in the city where a child can play. The majority of pre-school children spend a large part of the day in kindergarten, which means that forest visits should have a prominent place in the kindergarten curriculum. Therefore, this study focuses on making the forest more suitable and thus more accessible for visits with children. The first goal of the research is to identify teachers’ preferences for the forest environment they visit with a group of pre-school children. The second goal is to present a forest suitability model for a visit with kindergarten children based on the teachers’ preferences. Based on the research survey conducted among the teachers in Slovenian public kindergartens, we formed and evaluated the criteria for the construction of a model of forest suitability for a visit with children. As the most important requirement for visiting a forest, the teachers note its proximity. They prefer a mature, mixed forest, with a bit of undergrowth, dead wood, and a presence of water and a meadow. Based on the identified criteria, we used the multi-criteria evaluation method in the GIS-environment in order to build a model of urban forest suitability for a visit with kindergarten groups of children in the study area of the City of Ljubljana, Slovenia. The results are useful in urban forest planning and management to ensure better forest suitability and accessibility for visits by children. Suitability maps can be used as one of the spatial foundations necessary for an integrated urban forest planning with emphasis on social functions. The model can be adapted beyond Slovenia to different spatial and social requirements and contexts.


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