Useful wasteland - the potential of undeveloped land in modification of urban green infrastructure based on the city of Poznań

Abstract

Numerous barren land areas are found within administrative boundaries of cities. They include both former farmland located at the outskirts of cities, as well as vacant plots, postindustrial plots or former railway infrastructure plots. Barren plots are integral elements of the urban landscape and contemporary scientific concepts indicate their important role in the functioning of urban ecosystems. Abandoned land provides a potential for the development of green infrastructure and further development of recreation areas. At the same time some abandoned plots are informally adapted by local residents to suit their needs, transforming them into community gardens and recreation areas. This paper presents results of studies conducted by the authors in selected derelict areas in the city of Poznań. Analyses were conducted on their type, origin, size and location within the city. Observations were also recorded on the methods to adapt abandoned land by local communities.

The Cultural Ecosystem Services as an Element Supporting Manor Landscape Protection

“…The IGS are defined as unmanaged areas, such as vacant lots, wastelands, brownfields, 'leftover areas', and urban derelict places, not formally included in a cities' spatial planning documents as Urban Green Spaces that could level social injustice in UGS provision in cities [2]. Informal Green Spaces in equal measure or area with formally designed UGSs can improve urban residents' access to many ecosystem services, such as air purification, noise reduction, lowering extreme temperatures [6][7][8], possibilities for recreation and physical activity [9][10][11] and opportunities to spend time in contact with nature [12].…”

“…Whereas post-agricultural land is land where agricultural use has ceased for various reasons, e.g., unprofitable agricultural production, high level of fragmentation, unfavourable natural or transport conditions, erosion or pollution, administrative decisions changing land use [19] and which, in the lack of new functions, has undergone plant succession [2,10]. Agricultural and post agricultural land is most often found in the suburbs of towns and cities, which absorb suburban land as they sprawl [10]. They are examples of valuable cultural landscapes, the result of centuries of interaction between man and the natural environment.…”