IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jlands/v11y2022i5p677-d807807.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

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

Author

Listed:
  • Andrzej Długoński

    (Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw, 01-815 Warszawa, Poland)

  • Diana Dushkova

    (Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, 04318 Leipzig, Germany)

  • Dagmar Haase

    (Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
    Institute of Geography, Humboldt University of Berlin, Rudower Chaussee 16, 12489 Berlin, Germany)

Abstract

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrzej Długoński & Diana Dushkova & Dagmar Haase, 2022. "Urban Cemeteries—Places of Multiple Diversity and Challenges. A Case Study from Łódź (Poland) and Leipzig (Germany)," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-22, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:11:y:2022:i:5:p:677-:d:807807
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/5/677/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/5/677/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Margrete Skår & Helena Nordh & Grete Swensen, 2018. "Green urban cemeteries: more than just parks," Journal of Urbanism: International Research on Placemaking and Urban Sustainability, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 11(3), pages 362-382, July.
    2. Ágnes Sallay & Zsuzsanna Mikházi & Imola Gecséné Tar & Katalin Takács, 2022. "Cemeteries as a Part of Green Infrastructure and Tourism," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-28, March.
    3. Peter De Lacy & Charlie Shackleton, 2017. "Aesthetic and Spiritual Ecosystem Services Provided by Urban Sacred Sites," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-14, September.
    4. Nina Schwarz & Annegret Haase & Dagmar Haase & Nadja Kabisch & Sigrun Kabisch & Veronika Liebelt & Dieter Rink & Michael W. Strohbach & Juliane Welz & Manuel Wolff, 2021. "How Are Urban Green Spaces and Residential Development Related? A Synopsis of Multi-Perspective Analyses for Leipzig, Germany," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-16, June.
    5. Andrzej Długoński & Diana Dushkova, 2021. "The Hidden Potential of Informal Urban Greenspace: An Example of Two Former Landfills in Post-Socialist Cities (Central Poland)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-17, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jan K. Kazak & Katarzyna Hodor & Magdalena Wilkosz-Mamcarczyk, 2022. "Climate Change and Current Challenges for Landscapes and Cultural Heritage," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-3, December.
    2. Tanja M. Straka & Maren Mischo & Konstantin J. S. Petrick & Ingo Kowarik, 2022. "Urban Cemeteries as Shared Habitats for People and Nature: Reasons for Visit, Comforting Experiences of Nature, and Preferences for Cultural and Natural Features," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-21, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Tanja M. Straka & Maren Mischo & Konstantin J. S. Petrick & Ingo Kowarik, 2022. "Urban Cemeteries as Shared Habitats for People and Nature: Reasons for Visit, Comforting Experiences of Nature, and Preferences for Cultural and Natural Features," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-21, August.
    2. Eliza Szczerek, 2021. "The Problem of Densification of Large-Panel Housing Estates upon the Example of Cracow," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-23, December.
    3. Diana Dushkova & Annegret Haase & Manuel Wolff & Dagmar Haase, 2021. "Editorial for Special Issue “Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) in Cities and Their Interactions with Urban Land, Ecosystems, Built Environments and People: Debating Societal Implications”," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-7, September.
    4. Mara Ladu & Silvia Battino & Ginevra Balletto & Ainhoa Amaro García, 2023. "Green Infrastructure and Slow Tourism: A Methodological Approach for Mining Heritage Accessibility in the Sulcis-Iglesiente Bioregion (Sardinia, Italy)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-24, March.
    5. Długozima Anna & Kosiacka-Beck Ewa, 2020. "How to Enhance the Environmental Values of Contemporary Cemeteries in an Urban Context," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-19, March.
    6. Louis Gerhardus Lategan & Zene Steynberg & Elizelle Juanee Cilliers & Sarel Stephanus Cilliers, 2022. "Economic Valuation of Urban Green Spaces across a Socioeconomic Gradient: A South African Case Study," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-23, March.
    7. Fiona Nevzati & Mart Külvik & Joanna Storie & Liisa-Maria Tiidu & Simon Bell, 2023. "Assessment of Cultural Ecosystem Services and Well-Being: Testing a Method for Evaluating Natural Environment and Contact Types in the Harku Municipality, Estonia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-24, June.
    8. Grzyb, Tomasz, 2024. "Mapping cultural ecosystem services of the urban riverscapes: the case of the Vistula River in Warsaw, Poland," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    9. Simon Stork & Bernd Pölling & Wolf Lorleberg & Rolf Morgenstern & Jan-Henning Feil, 2023. "Clustering Business Models of Heterogeneous Nature-Based Solutions Implementing Innovative Governance and Financing Concepts," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-22, November.
    10. Nalle, Victor Imanuel W. & Moeliono, Tristam Pascal, 2023. "Spatial injustice in the context of cemeteries: The case of Surabaya, Indonesia," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    11. Stanford, Hugh R. & Hurley, Joe & Garrard, Georgia E. & Kirk, Holly, 2024. "Finding the forgotten spaces: Using a social-ecological framework to map informal green space in Melbourne, Australia," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    12. Constant, Natasha Louise & Taylor, Peter John, 2020. "Restoring the forest revives our culture: Ecosystem services and values for ecological restoration across the rural-urban nexus in South Africa," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    13. Biernacka, Magdalena & Kronenberg, Jakub & Łaszkiewicz, Edyta & Czembrowski, Piotr & Amini Parsa, Vahid & Sikorska, Daria, 2023. "Beyond urban parks: Mapping informal green spaces in an urban–peri-urban gradient," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    14. Allam, Zaheer, 2019. "The city of the living or the dead: On the ethics and morality of land use for graveyards in a rapidly urbanised world," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    15. Po-Ching Wang & Chi-Ying Yu, 2018. "Aesthetic Experience as an Essential Factor to Trigger Positive Environmental Consciousness," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-16, April.
    16. Zane Vincevica-Gaile & Juris Burlakovs & Maija Fonteina-Kazeka & Magdalena Wdowin & Emil Hanc & Vita Rudovica & Maris Krievans & Inga Grinfelde & Kristaps Siltumens & Mait Kriipsalu & Hani Amir Aouiss, 2023. "Case Study-Based Integrated Assessment of Former Waste Disposal Sites Transformed to Green Space in Terms of Ecosystem Services and Land Assets Recovery," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-21, February.
    17. Nanamhla Gwedla & Susanna Francina A. Cornelius & Marié J. Du Toit & Sarel S. Cilliers, 2022. "Stakeholder Perceptions of the Ecosystem Services of Health Clinic Gardens in Settlements and Small- to Medium-Sized Cities in the North-West Province, South Africa," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-20, October.
    18. Julia Konic & Franz Essl & Bernd Lenzner, 2021. "To Care or Not to Care? Which Factors Influence the Distribution of Early-Flowering Geophytes at the Vienna Central Cemetery (Austria)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-15, April.
    19. Ágnes Sallay & Zsuzsanna Mikházi & Imola Gecséné Tar & Katalin Takács, 2022. "Cemeteries as a Part of Green Infrastructure and Tourism," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-28, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:11:y:2022:i:5:p:677-:d:807807. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.