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A central public green space with an open air theatre proposed in the study area Mojmírovce within the Special Green Space Design Studio by Zuzana Blašková and Matej Brodanský (students); Ľubica Feriancová (supervisor)
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The current and future existence of human society strongly depends on our common natural capital and the services and benefits that it provides. These services and benefits are often referred to as ecosystem services and the natural system, which provides them, as green infrastructure. It consists of a complex system of greenery elements in settlem...
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... Rural settlements and their cadastral territories cover 95.44% of the overall area of Slovakia. Thus, Slovakia can be defined as a characteristic rural country with different production types, which is reflected by the size, shape, urban form, and spatial patterns of settlements [1][2][3][4]. In terms of morphology and landscape relief, Izakovičová [3] defines three main landscape types: lowland, basin, and mountainous landscapes. ...
... Natural ecosystems have been transformed by urbanisation, industrialisation, and the construction of artificial technical works in the landscape. Rural settlements have also been intensively affected by the development of agriculture [4]. Population growth causes significant pressures on rural landscapes through the diversification of living and housing needs. ...
... The spatial morphology, urban form, and the overall settlement structure, including the spatial arrangement of streets, define the landscape type as shown in works in the landscape. Rural settlements have also been intensively affected by the development of agriculture [4]. Population growth causes significant pressures on rural landscapes through the diversification of living and housing needs. ...
Woody plants in roadside green spaces of rural settlements provide a wide range of ecosystem functions and services. The study presented in this paper was conducted in three rural settlements in Western Slovakia, representing three different rural landscape types-lowland, basin, and mountainous landscapes. The assessed woody vegetation is situated in diverse settlement structures, with various spatial patterns. A comprehensive woody plant assessment was conducted in selected central streetscapes of three model settlements, examining spatial, compositional, visual, aesthetic, and other values, as well as the characteristics of woody plants. These attributes were clustered according to five main functions and fourteen value parameters and the results were assigned to three quality categories, to objectivise a qualitative woody plant assessment in roadside vegetation structures in the countryside. The findings show the level of suitability of woody plants based on how they fulfil aesthetic, compositional, climate, safety, cultural, and historical functions.
... They should also help improve connections between green spaces, eliminate the use of pesticides, limit excessive mowing of urban green spaces and other biodiversity harmful practices (European Commission, 2020). Sustainable and resilient landscapes at different scales have an integral green infrastructure system, which includes greenways, green belts, ecological networks, green and open spaces, and other natural and seminatural elements (Tóth, Štěpánková & Feriancová, 2016), including diverse elements such as urban agriculture (Tóth & Timpe, 2017) or green university campuses (Čibik et al., 2020). Green infrastructure can be recognised as an integral component of the fourth nature concept (Čibik et al., 2020), as well as a strategic tool for climate change mitigation in urban environments (Tóth, Halajová & Halaj, 2015), and rural landscapes (Tóth & Feriancová, 2013;Tóth, Štěpánková & Feriancová, 2016). ...
... Sustainable and resilient landscapes at different scales have an integral green infrastructure system, which includes greenways, green belts, ecological networks, green and open spaces, and other natural and seminatural elements (Tóth, Štěpánková & Feriancová, 2016), including diverse elements such as urban agriculture (Tóth & Timpe, 2017) or green university campuses (Čibik et al., 2020). Green infrastructure can be recognised as an integral component of the fourth nature concept (Čibik et al., 2020), as well as a strategic tool for climate change mitigation in urban environments (Tóth, Halajová & Halaj, 2015), and rural landscapes (Tóth & Feriancová, 2013;Tóth, Štěpánková & Feriancová, 2016). Moreover, green infrastructure can be a reinterpreting and directing concept in urban and rural development (Karadeniz et al., 2020). ...
Planning and designing sustainable, resilient, and healthy landscapes, cities and communities is anchored in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 2015. Current European strategies, such as the EU Green Infrastructure Strategy, the European Green Deal, the EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and other related policy and strategic documents all recognise green infrastructure and nature-based solutions as important planning approaches, as well as design and implementation tools in urban areas and landscapes. This issue of Acta Horticulturae et Regiotecturae is dedicated to landscape architecture, landscape planning and green infrastructure at various scales and in diverse landscape settings. It provides original research findings from Chinese, Croatian, Latvian, Nigerian, Polish, Slovak, and Ukrainian cities and metropolitan regions. The issue deals with regional landscape specificities and qualities and shows examples of urban green infrastructure planning and design both at holistic and site-specific scales. At the local scale, it is highly important to involve and engage the public from the very beginning of the planning and design process. This issue introduces various experiences and empirical findings generated by local participatory and co-design actions. The articles show a wide range of ecosystem services provided by green infrastructure and its elements, while also mentioning some of possible ecosystem disservices.
... Jan Kadavý,Robert Knott,Barbora Uherková,Michal Kneifl,Zdeněk Adamec ............................. 463 Introduction An important challenge of contemporary landscape architecture in the Slovak countryside is restoration of public and special green and open spaces and an overall enhancement of the local green infrastructure (Tóth, Štěpánková and Feriancová, 2016). According to Tóth (2020), green infrastructure can be considered an important strategic concept and approach in planning and designing (rural) landscapes. ...
... All three design teams have integrated diverse elements of green infrastructure into their landscape architectural designs as suggested by Tóth, Štěpánková and Feriancová (2016). This project has been used as a case study in the long-term research by design teaching on rural open spaces and landscapes at the Institute of Landscape Architecture in Nitra (Tóth, 2020;. ...
... The impact of the human factor as the main actor of agricultural activity in the countryside is the subject of many studies, but the emphasis is put largely on the non-built-up area where this agricultural activity predominantly takes place. In scientific papers dealing with the rural landscape in Slovakia, we can find studies focusing mainly on the change of the land cover structure (Kanianska, R. et al. 2014), the impact of tourism on the landscape (Klaučo, M. et al. 2017), diversification of the rural landscape (Máliková, L. and Klobučník, M. 2017), function of agriculture in countryside (Bazik, J. and Muchová, Z. 2016;Špulerová, J. et al. 2017), rural population (Simpach, O. and Pechrová, M. 2016), green infrastructure and sustainable countryside (Tóth, A. et al. 2016), the potential of the rural landscape (Štěpánková, R. and Bihuňová, M. 2012) or multi-functionality of the countryside (Bezák, P. and Mitchley, J. 2014;Bohátová, Z. et al. 2015). ...
The rural landscape in Slovakia was a synonym of agricultural production until 1989 and countryside has fulfilled specifically a productive function. Agriculture still plays a very important role in the Slovak countryside, but after 1989 there have been socio-economic changes in Slovak economy, which has reoriented to the market economy, resulting in changes of the ownership of enterprises, production processes and competition in the market. Countryside has been looking for new poles of development, what can be termed as the diversification of the functions of the countryside, i.e. the transformation of a mono-functional space into a multifunctional space. However, the increase in the amount of rural functions also results in changes of the land cover structure, which are most evident in built-up areas of municipalities. The aim of the paper is to evaluate the changes of the land cover structure of the rural landscape in Slovakia, focusing on the built-up area of the monitored municipality. The municipality of Podhájska, which is the centre of the Termál micro-region, was selected as the model territory and was researched as a case study. In this region, there is a constantly developing tourism, services and business instead of focusing only on agriculture. Changes in the land cover structure were monitored using aerial images from 1987 and 2014 (updated by field research) and the extent and nature of these changes were then analysed by Analysis tools in ArcGIS 10.2. The changes occurred in almost a quarter of the monitored area. Particularly, the use of gardens around houses has changed and they transformed from production to recreation area. The built-up area is also thickened and expanded under the influence of an increase of the tourism importance, especially in the area of former vineyards that had a long tradition in the municipality. The results of the research point to the loss of rural identity in case of increasing amount of function. Similar case studies should serve as base material for documents dealing with the sustainable development of rural areas. © 2018, Reasearch Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences Hungarian Academy. All rights reserved.
... These are the areas of parks, smaller designed green spaces, tree alleys along streets and public green areas in housing estates. As noted by Tóth, Štěpánková and Feriancová (2016), parks in rural settlements and small town centers represent the local landscape character. In Štúrovo to this type of parks and smaller park areas belong: the park at the Freedom Square, the green space on the Main Street, the park green area at the Square of St. Imre and the park area in front of the policlinic and Smurfit Kappa Štúrovo. ...
... The editor's choice of submitted topics is intended to foster inspiration for future articles on this complex subject, and the compilation of our next journal issues will therefore cover detailed analysis of the individual indicators and most important features of green infrastructure. Z krajinárskeho pohľadu predstavuje zelená infraštruktúra prvky, ktoré prepájajú prírodnú a urbanizovanú krajinu a skvalitňujú životné prostredie v mestách a obciach (Benedict, McMahon, 2006;Tóth et al., 2016). Na lokálnej úrovni ide o parky a lesoparky, historické a botanické záhrady, mokrade, vodné plochy a toky a ich nábrežia, zeleň rekreačných trás, zeleň obytných súborov a občianskej vybavenosti, súkromné dvory, záhrady a záhradkárske osady, prícestnú a uličnú vegetáciu, zeleň námestí a bulvárov, zelené strechy, zelené steny a iné prvky (Supuka, Feriancová a kol., 2008;Tóth, 2017). ...
Tóth, A.: Green Infrastructure in the Context of European Strategies. Životné prostredie, 2018, 52, 1, p. 3 – 10. /// Green infrastructure is a well-established concept in European strategies and policies. This article defines green infrastructure from the perspective of landscape planning and landscape architecture. It traces the origin of green infrastructure in well-known concepts from the 19th and 20th century. The article elaborates on green infrastructure in European Union, in terms of the EU Strategy on Green Infrastructure and the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020. Green infrastructure is discussed from the view-point of Natura 2000 and EU policies in the field of regional development, climate change and water management. This paper examines interactions between the concept of green infrastructure, the Common Agricultural Policy and the new EU Forest Strategy and then finally presents the reports, studies and international research and scientific projects on green infrastructure. /// Keywords: biodiversity, Common Agricultural Policy, European Union, green infrastructure, landscape architecture, Natura 2000, water management
... However, it is currently not a common practice to carry out visual landscape quality assessment within urban development processes, including RES in Slovakia. Landscape values should be considered in local master plans much more than they currently are (Tóth et al. 2016). Considering the progressive development of RES, the existing methodical tools on landscape quality assessment should be updated. ...
Extensive urbanization is a major cause of landscape fragmentation, depletes natural habitats and affects climate change. An efficient counteraction is offered by the realization of green infrastructures (GIs). GIs contribute to ecological connectivity, increase ecosystem resilience, address climate change, and improve people’s wellbeing. The inclusion of GIs in spatial planning processes is important for mainstreaming environmental considerations in the design of sustainable cities. Despite the interest in the integration of GIs in urban planning theories and tools, few scientific works have tackled this issue systematically. This study aims at clarifying if – and to what extent – GI concepts are included in regional plans and programs adopted in Sardinia (Italy). We scrutinized the documents by using quali-quantitative content analysis based on criteria rooted in scientific literature and figured out that few plans and programs incorporate a clear definition of GIs. Most of them incorporate implicit references to GIs. Our results confirm other scientific evidence and open to future research works applied to the Sardinian and to other regional and national contexts.
Green infrastructure (GI) is a strategic planning approach that can contribute to solutions for ecological, social, and environmental problems. GI also aims to conserve natural and semi-natural landscapes and enhance ecological networks. Within the scope of spatial planning, urban and rural landscape units can be integrated through GI planning. In this study, we propose a method to calculate the landscape potential and map GI in the lower Büyük Menderes River Basin, Turkey. We used landscape character assessment (LCA) to identify the landscape typology, which was one of the key steps for determining the landscape potential. Three thematic maps were produced and overlaid in ArcMap 10.7. A map showing the spatial distributions of 71 landscape types was created by means of LCA. Then, the landscape types were assessed according to defined criteria, and finally, GI of the study area was mapped. This study found that high-quality landscape types were located in the middle, northern, and eastern parts of the lower Büyük Menderes River Basin, rather than in the protected areas. Moreover, 68 of the 71 landscape types were present in the GI map. The findings show the necessity of including the landscape potential concept in conservation strategies. Thus, this paper provides a reference guideline for mapping GI as a contributor to nature conservation and spatial planning strategies.
