DOI: 10.11118/978-80-7701-087-0-0373

THE ROLE OF CONIFEROUS PLANTS IN ENHANCING ADAPTABILITY, AESTHETIC AND RECREATION VALUES OF URBAN LANDSCAPES

Jan Łukaszkiewicz¹, Beata Fortuna-Antoszkiewicz¹

¹ Department of Landscape Architecture, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland

Urban environments present unique climatic challenges, necessitating the use of coniferous plants to optimize the recreational bioclimate in large parks and public spaces. This study examines the adaptive capacities, year-round aesthetic value, and structural utility of gymnosperms within Poland's urban landscapes. By integrating extensive field inventories (2008-2025) with detailed evaluations of tree stand parameters, the research analyzes how species composition and canopy closure influence the phytoclimate of urban stand interiors. The findings indicate that strategically managed coniferous plantings can create luminous, loose stands that provide high recreational comfort, optimal lighting, and effective air ventilation. Additionally, such spatial structures support denser, more resilient undergrowth with increased tolerance to intensive recreational use and trampling. However, the vitality and aesthetic quality of urban gymnosperms are continually threatened by severe environmental stressors, including soil compaction, increasing salinization, and prolonged drought. To balance environmental landscape protection with intensive public use, provenance-aware species selection and the development of diverse, multi-layered stands are strongly recommended. These integrated strategies are essential for establishing self-regulating, sustainable green systems that enhance both long-term ecological resilience and daily leisure utility in modern cities.

Klíčová slova: canopy closure, environmental stress, gymnosperms, leisure spaces, plant provenance

stránky: 373-375, Publikováno: 2026, online: 2026