The possibility to reconcile the conflict between the preservation of synanthropic vegetation and the development of cities

Abstract

The impoverishment of synanthropic vegetation has been observed in Polish cities for at least half a century. It relates to both the decrease in the area of its occurrence and reduction in species diversity. This is associated with changes in land development, a faster construction process, and an increasingly smaller area of wasteland as well as with the fact that agricultural land and farm buildings are found in cities less and less frequently. Municipal management has been modernised and rubbish, soil or rubble dumps are encountered less often. Besides, the aesthetics adopted by modern man does not allow for the existence of spontaneous vegetation, since in an ordered world such great freedom and liberty are not accepted. Nevertheless, synanthropic flora is one of elements of greenery co-creating a unique urban ecosystem. It increases species richness, improves the climate, and contributes to a reduction in pollution and noise. The present paper highlights difficulties related to the preservation of this flora in cities, and a concept is presented how to introduce it into urban green spaces. Different forms of green spaces are presented in the case of which it is possible to use synanthropic plants, e.g.: ecological lawns and flower meadows, extensive roof gardens, and ecological parks.

Keywords

• synanthropic vegetation
• green spaces
• urban ecology