Green Infrastructure in Sustainable Urban Management: An Analysis of Functions and Implementation Barriers
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56652/ejmss2025.1-2.9Keywords:
green infrastructure, ecosystem services, sustainable urban management, nature-based solutions, urban resilienceAbstract
Modern cities are increasingly confronted with environmental and social challenges resulting from urbanization and climate change. In response to these issues, growing importance is being attributed to green infrastructure and the ecosystem services it provides, which support more sustainable urban management. The aim of this article is to analyze the significance of ecosystem services delivered by green infrastructure in the functioning of contemporary cities and to identify the main barriers limiting the implementation of nature-based solutions. The article addresses the question of how green infrastructure influences urban systems and which factors hinder the effective use of its potential in planning and management practices. Previous studies indicate that urban greenery performs important environmental, social, and economic functions, contributing, among other things, to improved air quality, mitigation of the urban heat island effect, and the enhancement of public health and urban resilience to climate change. The article is based on a review of recent scientific literature concerning green infrastructure and ecosystem services. The conducted analysis demonstrates that green infrastructure constitutes an important component supporting long-term and sustainable urban management, however, its effective implementation is constrained by financial, institutional, planning, and social barriers. The findings highlight the need for better integration of ecosystem services into spatial planning and urban policy.
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