DOI: 10.11118/978-80-7701-087-0-0407

URBAN TREES FOR PEOPLE AND CLIMATE: BALANCING ECOSYSTEM SERVICES AND LONG-TERM VITALITY IN PUBLIC SPACES

Jozef Porvazník¹, Ladislav Bakay¹, Katarína Miklášová¹

¹ Faculty of Horticulture and Landscape Engineering, SAU in Nitra, Tulipánová 7, 949 01 Nitra, Slovakia

Urbanization and climate change significantly intensify the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, directly impacting the quality of public recreation. Green spaces, particularly tree vegetation, represent one of the most effective nature-based solutions, bridging the gap between environmental protection and human thermal comfort. Studies indicate that well-designed green spaces can reduce urban air temperatures by 2-4 °C (locally up to 8-10 °C compared to impervious surface) and significantly mitigate temperature extremes during heatwaves.
However, for recreation and protection to go “hand in hand”, a strategic approach is required. A key factor is the proper selection of tree species – prioritizing those with a high Leaf Area Index (LAI) and resilience to urban stressors (e.g., Tilia, Acer platanoides, Carpinus betulus, Quercus, Ulmus, Alnus glutinosa, or Zelkova).
Furthermore, the long-term sustainability of these benefits depends on an integrated maintenance system (regular irrigation, crown pruning, and root protection). This paper analyses functional green spaces in European cities to demonstrate how systematic management enhances tree vitality while providing high-quality recreational environments. The proposed principles aim to optimize green infrastructure as a resilient framework for climate adaptation. 

Keywords: urban heat island, nature-based solutions, recreational comfort, greenery maintenance, climate change adaptation

pages: 407-410, Published: 2026, online: 2026