Green spaces in Bucharest - present situation, current developmental programs and future aspirations

The following article aims to review the situation of the green spaces in Bucharest, by going through a case study with the goal of emphasizing crucial aspects for this city to become “smarter” than it currently is, in terms of sustainable development. This article is based on geophysical data and urban characteristics of this capital, compared to the other major European cities. We also present some of the previously proposed governmental initiatives in terms of natural spaces and lifestyle improvement, as well as what citizens believe to be improvements of their current living conditions. Through our research, we found that Bucharest possesses various sectors with a large demographic index. These condensed housing sectors, usually involving tall apartment buildings, could benefit from small parks, as well balcony or “vertical” gardens. Considering the great number of schools of this capital, green initiatives can be implemented in educational set-ups as well. Implementing previously proposed ideas such as the creation of a “green belt” would significantly improve the air quality, landscape and pedestrian security of the busy Bucharest. After all, maintaining a green and healthy urban area brings major benefits, and it should be a common goal for all its citizens. Besides the general public, this review article can be of particular interest to the city council and to researchers interested in civil engineering and urban development. Lastly, we strongly believe in the importance of the present study, since it contains up-to-date information and it customizes sustainability initiatives to the economical and social conditions of this city.