THE VALUES OF RECREATIONAL IMPORTANCE AND SUITABILITY OF URBAN GREEN AREAS FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF CULTURAL ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

Abstract

The purpose of the work is to determine indicators of recreational importance and suitability, as well as to develop a system of indicators of the recreational potential of green areas for their further use in the assessment of CES: aesthetic, recreational, and social exchange services and relationships. The method of work involves the application of previous experience of domestic and foreign research in the areas of resource assessment of territories for the purposes of organization and development of recreation. Evaluation and categorization of green zones according to the recreational opportunities defined in the system of values is carried out according to 5-point scales with clearly defined criteria of recreational qualities. The overall recreational importance and suitability of green zones for the provision of cultural ecosystem services is objectively determined as the total score of their recreational evaluation based on a set of indicators. Recreational value and suitability, characterized by parameters of medical and biological favorability, aesthetics and landscaping, form the overall recreational potential of urban green areas. The first group of parameters reflects the recreational usefulness of the green zone, and includes values of: phytoncide, dust and gas resistance, air ionization. The second group of parameters includes the value of the diversity of the dendrological composition of the plantations, visibility and uniqueness of the landscape, which generally determine its aesthetics. The third group of parameters reflects the general improvement of urban green zones and includes the value of infrastructure development, the presence of water bodies, historical-cultural/architectural/natural monuments, points of landscape discovery, etc. Recreational potential directly affects the overall capacity of green areas to provide cultural ecosystem services (CES). Scientific novelty. The work analyzed approaches to the assessment of recreational resources, based on the results of the analysis of previous experience, 10 values of the recreational potential of urban green areas were determined, which are important in the formation of the CES proposal. The offer of CES in urban ecosystems is formed not only thanks to the subjective perception of city residents, but also depends to an equal extent on a set of objectively existing conditions and factors of the territory, which is capable of providing cultural ecosystem services. Practical meaning. The determined values of the recreational potential of urban green zones will allow more objective consideration during the evaluation of all the recreational properties of the green zone, which determine its potential in providing CES. It is advisable to use such indicators in CES evaluation to reduce subjectivity in determining their offer.