The Hidden Potential of Informal Urban Greenspace: An Example of Two Former Landfills in Post-Socialist Cities (Central Poland)

Assessment of soils and green stands in the recreational areas with different land-use history in New Moscow

Abstract. Recreational areas contribute considerably to the establishment of sustainable and comfortable urban environment. Green stands and soils of recreational areas provide important environmental functions and ecosystem services, their utilization depends on natural and anthropogenic factors distinguished by land-use history. For the case of the recreational areas of New Moscow, a comparative analysis of trees (n=1909) and soils (n=39, 0-10 cm layer) of the parks, established on former forested and fallow lands, was performed. It was shown that the species diversity was higher although the tree condition score was lower in the forest-parks, compared to the parks established on former fallow lands, which were generally characterized by a higher level of maintenance. Soils of these parks had a neutral pHH20 (7.20.8) and high content of organic matter (8.52.5 %), whereas the forest-parks soils were similar to the natural Retisols of the forest area with pHH20 6.40.2 and 5.10.2, organic matter content 5.90.2 и 3.50.2 %, respectively. Soils of the parks, established on the former fallow lands, had also a higher pollution level by particular heavy metals as well as considering the integral pollution index. Thus, a higher level of maintenance of the parks established on former fallow lands coincided with a higher anthropogenic pressure and ecosystem alteration. However, reorganization of forests into forestparks allowed partial preservation of the natural ecosystems. That is necessary to consider for planning the new urbanized areas in Moscow.

Urban Cemeteries—Places of Multiple Diversity and Challenges. A Case Study from Łódź (Poland) and Leipzig (Germany)

This article presents a pilot study investigating the multidimensional diversity of cemeteries as an important element of cultural heritage and green infrastructure within the urban landscape. We studied the state and diversity of nature, perceptions, and activities of visitors. As religion is an important aspect that differentiates cemeteries from each other, we studied a sample of four multi-confessional urban cemeteries in Łódź (Poland) and Leipzig (Germany) by using site observation and a questionnaire survey. We found that cemeteries are far undervalued as public green resources that can perform important functions in sociocultural life and the mental well-being of the general public, as the perceptions of silence- and contemplation-seeking visitors tell us. The perception of cemeteries depends on the level of secularization, varying from a sacrum sphere up to specific recreational and touristic opportunities; findings that should be considered by town planners when optimizing the cultural ecosystem services of green spaces.

Environmental and molecular approach to dye industry waste degradation by the ascomycete fungus Nectriella pironii

Textile industry effluents and landfill leachate contain chemicals such as dyes, heavy metals and aromatic amines characterized by their mutagenicity, cytotoxicity and carcinogenicity. The aim of the present study was investigation of the ascomycete fungus N. pironii isolated from urban postindustrial textile green space for its ability to grow and retain metabolic activity in the presence of the dye industry waste. Research focused mainly on dyes, heavy metals and aromatic amines, which had been detected in landfill leachate via HPLC-MS/MS analysis. Presence of all tested compounds as well as leachate in the growth medium clearly favored the growth of fungal biomass. Only slight growth limitation was observed in the presence of 50 mg L-1 o-tolidine. The fungus eliminated o-tolidine as well as dyes at all tested concentrations. The presence of metals slightly influenced the decolorization of the azo dyes; however, it was still similar to 90%. During fungal growth, o-tolidine was hydroxylated and/or converted to toluidine and its derivatives. Laccase and cytochrome P450 involvement in this process has been revealed. The results presented in the paper provide a valuable background for the development of a fungus-based system for the elimination of toxic pollutants generated by the textile industry.

Planning for Informal Urban Green Spaces in African Cities: Children’s Perception and Use in Peri-Urban Areas of Luanda, Angola

Urbanization has placed considerable constraints on the preservation and maintenance of formal green spaces in African cities. This situation has given attention to the potentials of informal green spaces (IGS). While studies on IGS in African cities is only emerging, scholarly and policy attention to children’s perceptions and use of IGS within Africa’s spatially expansive urbanism is limited. This study explores children’s perceptions, use, barriers, willingness, and suggestions for improving IGS in the peri-urban area of Funda in Luanda. Based on semi-structured interviews and focused-group discussions, the study revealed that, while IGS offered different ecosystem services, not all IGS were accessible to children, due to safety concerns, maintenance conditions, and parental restrictions. Children’s interest in maintenance activities and suggestions for improving IGS reflected their independent identities, sense of place, and cognitive capacity to contribute to planning their community. The paper submits that the potential role of IGS in Africa’s peri-urban areas can be improved by taking into account children’s agency and experiential knowledge of community spaces. For this reason, there is a need to recognize and engage children as co-producers of community knowledge and interventions.