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Green Infrastructure, Urbanization, and Ecosystem Services: The Main Challenges for Russia’s Largest Cities

Author

Listed:
  • Oxana Klimanova

    (Department of World Physical Geography and Geoecology, Faculty of Geography, Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia)

  • Olga Illarionova

    (Department of World Physical Geography and Geoecology, Faculty of Geography, Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia)

  • Karsten Grunewald

    (Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development (Dresden), 01217 Dresden, Germany)

  • Elena Bukvareva

    (Biodiversity Conservation Center, 117312 Moscow, Russia)

Abstract

Globally, the process of urbanization is transforming land use and, as a consequence, reducing the efficiency of ecosystem services (ESs), which ensure a healthy and comfortable urban environment. In cities, green infrastructure (GI) is a key source of urban ESs. Russia is a highly urbanized country: 70% of its population live in towns or cities. As cities continue to expand, they are swallowing unsealed lands that support ESs. In this paper, we present the results of an analysis of the current state and recent changes in urban GI in Russia’s 16 largest cities, including a biophysical evaluation of key urban ESs, using remote sensing data and freely available statistics. Our analysis identifies a weak correlation between GI area, ES volume, and favorable climate conditions as well as a stronger correlation between ESs and the increasing rate of urbanization. Considering Russia’s high level of urbanization, the key importance of ESs for the well-being of citizens, and ongoing reductions of urban GI, major revisions to urban planning policy are required. Indicators of urban biodiversity, GI, and ESs should be incorporated into decision-making processes. In particular, it is vital that the accounting and monitoring of GI and ESs are established in all of Russia’s larger cities.

Suggested Citation

  • Oxana Klimanova & Olga Illarionova & Karsten Grunewald & Elena Bukvareva, 2021. "Green Infrastructure, Urbanization, and Ecosystem Services: The Main Challenges for Russia’s Largest Cities," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-21, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:10:y:2021:i:12:p:1292-:d:687467
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Seiwert, Anne & Rößler, Stefanie, 2020. "Understanding the term green infrastructure: origins, rationales, semantic content and purposes as well as its relevance for application in spatial planning," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
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    2. Tandarić, Neven & Ives, Christopher D. & Watkins, Charles, 2022. "From city in the park to “greenery in plant pots”: The influence of socialist and post-socialist planning on opportunities for cultural ecosystem services," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    3. Diana Dushkova & Maria Ignatieva & Anastasia Konstantinova & Viacheslav Vasenev & Elvira Dovletyarova & Yury Dvornikov, 2022. "Human-Nature Interactions during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic in Moscow, Russia: Exploring the Role of Contact with Nature and Main Lessons from the City Responses," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-31, May.

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