+443308187254Andrzej Dlugonski, Thilo Wellmann, Dagmar Haase
Urban nature reserves are an important reservoir of urban greenery with preserved natural vegetation and valuable tree species up to 400 years old (relics of the former Mazovian Forest), as is the case with forests in Warsaw, capital of Poland. They are also areas serving the local community as recreational places acting mostly the only places of greenery in a dense structure urban district of the city. The BielaÅ?ski Forest in Warsaw (case study) is an example of natural greenery (area of 130.35 ha) as a buffer zone (green lungs) between BielaÅ?ski Hospital complex, University (UKSW) and dense urban buildings of Bielany disrict. Despite nature protection of forest site (established in 1973) the given area fulfills important health and recreational functions. The aim of the research is to determine the health condition of forest trees by using the latest available remote sensing (RS) spatial data and indicator (Map of Tree Crowns in Warsaw, 2018; Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, NDVI). In addition, the impact on health and recreation functions of the forest area was examined. The results show selected parts of the forest particularly endangered to users, as well as, the most valuable areas that may prevent active and passive recreation. Moreover, due to poor management and legal restrictions of urban forests in Poland, this site is limited cultural or by usage diversity. Finally, the RS method can provide guidelines on how to change forest space to adapt it best to user needs, when applicable legal regulations for nature protection areas.
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