Marek DEGÓRSKI, Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization,, Poland
Bozena DEGÓRSKA, Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization,, Poland
In view of the growing burden on the environment of cities and their suburban zones, inter alia, the disorderly and intensive development of buildings, an increase in terrain-absorbing infrastructure, an increase in car traffic and exposure to other sources of pollution, which, taken together, make the availability of healthy areas in areas with a high population density is being reduced. Climate change (e.g. heat waves, inundation, floods) poses a significant threat to highly urbanized areas, the negative effects of which for city dwellers are additionally reinforced by the urban heat island effect and soil sealing. In the game for urban space, urban ecosystems and blue-green infrastructure play a significant role, which should be recognized in the wide range of services provided. The essence of the problem of the quality of life in highly urbanized areas and attempts to improve it through the use of ecosystem services are emphasized by numerous research works, the results of which are currently synthesized in the world literature (Arslan et al., 2021; Dell'Ovo and Oppio, 2021; Russo and Cirella, 2021 ). The aim of the paper will be to present the results of research conducted in metropolitan areas and Polish cities in the context of their natural potential generating the ability of the environment to improve the quality of life in urbanized areas. Measures allowing to determine this potential in all categories of ecosystem services, i.e. supply, regulatory and cultural, will be discussed.
Mots clés : urban area|ecosystem services|human well-being |environmental potential|Poland
A103903MD