P. Shyshchenko’s research while affiliated with National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and other places

The purpose of the study is to analyze the impact of the availability of urban green spaces (UGS) and air quality on the cost of residential real estate in Kyiv. Additionally, it seeks to identify the level of awareness among city residents regarding the advantages of living close to UGSs in areas with relatively clean air and their willingness to pay a higher price for such housing. The QGIS software was employed to assess the pedestrian and time accessibility levels of recreational green spaces, and the results are depicted on the corresponding map. The least accessible for everyday recreation is the UGS in the central districts of the city, which traditionally have the highest population density and the most expensive residential real estate. The article analyzes the priority criteria for determining the housing cost, depending on the spatial localization relative to the city center and the comfort class of real estate. The distribution of housing across different tiers and the price range for the apartments in new constructions in Kyiv during 2015–2021 were also examined. To identify the correlation between the cost of residential real estate in the capital’s new buildings and the availability of green spaces nearby, we investigated the spatial distribution of prices in the largest residential complexes in the city. The results of spatial visualization obtained through Voronoi diagrams or Delaunay triangulation indicate significant disparities in the cost of housing located in the center of Kyiv or on the periphery. Logically, residential complexes with the highest apartment prices are located in the central districts of Kyiv and near the metro stations. However, most of these locations lack accessible green areas suitable for everyday recreation. Therefore, there is no positive correlation between housing prices and the presence of UGSs nearby. To achieve the research goal, we also conducted a sociological survey among Kyiv residents in various districts of the city. The survey results indicate that most Kyiv residents do not have the desire or are not currently willing to pay a higher price for the opportunity to live near a park or forest and breathe clean air, i.e., to enjoy the ecosystem services provided by UGSs fully. The scientific novelty of the research lies in determining the pedestrian and time accessibility of recreational green spaces in Kyiv, identifying trends in spatial clustering of the most expensive residential real estate in central city areas, and demonstrating the lack of a positive impact of the availability of green areas on the per square meter cost of housing in new developments. Additionally, the study reveals a remarkably low willingness of the city residents to pay a higher price for the opportunity to receive ecosystem services from available UGSs.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the cultural ecosystem services of the Kremenetski Hory National Nature Park (NNP) and to substantiate the feasibility of changing the spatial distribution of functional zones of its territory. The Travel Cost Method was used to assess the tourist and recreational value, while the Conditional Value Method was used to assess the aesthetic heritage value. The flaws revealed during the research prompted some improvements to the existing calculation methodology. The calculated value of tourist and recreational ecosystem services of the Kremenetski Hory NNP amounts to $721,217.32 per year. The value of the Park's aesthetic heritage is$156,713.89 per year. The obtained results indicate a sufficiently high quality of cultural ecosystem services provided by the National Park, therefore such assessment should be conducted regularly for the purposes of their monitoring. Numerous environmental conflicts were identified within the studied protected area, the majority of which are a consequence of imperfectly defined functional zones. Improving the functional zoning of the Kremenetski Hory NNP in accordance with our proposed scheme will contribute to minimizing environmental conflicts and preventing further degradation of the ecosystem services within the studied area. The assessment of ecosystem services aims to persuade society of the necessity to preserve ecosystems in order to continue obtaining essential benefits (services) from them.

The purpose of this study is to identify the causes of degradation and the main stress factorsof urban impact on the wetlands of the Sovky tract in the city Kyiv and to justify the need ofcreating a protected area there. In order to achieve the goal, we investigated the geoecologicalstate of the tract for ten years, analysed 100 water samples from Sovski ponds, identified themain sources of contamination of reservoirs and adjacent territory and proposed the urgentmeasures to restore and preserve valuable urban wetlands. During the research, we revealed asteady trend of increasing concentrations of nitrites (NO2-N), nitrates (NO3-N) andphosphates (PO4) in Sovski ponds. It was established that the main sources of contaminationof reservoirs by biogenic substances are the untreated storm sewer drains and motor-carwashings located along nearly the entire perimeter of the Sovky tract. During the studiedperiod, the stress factors of the urban impact on wetland ecosystems were strengtheningsystematically, that stipulated the increase of chemical and noise contamination, cloggingwith household and construction waste, disturbance of the soil cover and destruction ofnatural habitats of plants and animals. In order to stop the degradation and to preserve theunique urban wetlands, we have offered to include them in the complement of the NatureReserve Fund of Kyiv, in particular, to create a Regional Landscape Park within the studiedterritory. We drew up a functional zoning scheme of the proposed protected area in the Sovkytract based on the geoecological monitoring results, that will provide its protection from thepotential building, clogging and further degradation.

The article is devoted to the problem of the preservation of urban wetlands as the most vulnerable valuable ecosystems in the conditions of rapid urbanization, which need to be protected. It researches the current state of the Sovky tract (and the lower cas­cade wetlands of the Sovski Ponds located within it) in the center of Kyiv. Despite the strong urban influence, the rich floristic and faunal diversity of the studied area has been revealed. The value of urban wetlands for Kyiv is determined by the vital ecosystem services provided to the local community. Such services include, first of all, regulation of the microclimate, moisture and nutrients distribution in the soil, habitats preservation for the rare species of animals and plants, regulation of the groundwater levels, pollution filtration, waste adsorption, oxygen produc­tion and carbon dioxide absorption, water quality improvement, mitigation of the climate change consequences, creation of the favourable conditions for recreation, etc. As a result of field surveys of the Sovky tract, the complete decline of the territory and the degradation of valuable wetlands have been indicated. We have investigated the main geoecological conflicts caused by littering of the territory with household and construction waste, persistent pollution of the water bodies caused by untreated sewage due to unauthorized intrusions of resi­dents into the household sewers, chemical and noise pollution from the road infrastructure, grass burning in spring, etc. The spatial localisation of all conflicts within the Sovky tract is shown on the relevant map. The negative consequences of the long-term unresolved conflicts for the functioning of the wetlands and the quality of the ecosystem services they provide have been identified. Given the perspective of development in the study area of the ecopark and a fairly general idea of the essence of this concept, we proposed to include wetlands of Sovky tract in the Nature Reserve Fund of Kyiv. According to the current legislation, this area meets all the criteria of the category “Regional Landscape Park” (RLP).The main purpose of preserving the unique urban wetlands is the protection of rare species of plants and animals and their natural habitats, which is possible only in the conditions provided for in the RLP reserved zone. In addition, granting the official status of a protected area will make it impossible to build and litter within unique urban wetlands in the future.

The goal of this study is to find the locations of critical deficiency or absence of urban green space (UGS) in Kyivin order to determine the locations of priority UGS planning and mitigate climate change effects. To achieve thisgoal, we found actual UGS areas within Kyiv limits, analysed their spatial distribution and calculated the greenerylevels in each of the ten districts in the capital. Using QGIS tools, we calculated the geometric UGS characteristicsand processed 3,548 contours within city limits. Based on own calculations, we built a map chart of Kyiv UGSand filled it in with relevant information. Since the UGS distribution in different Kyiv districts is very uneven, asignificant indictor of protection of inhabitants from adverse climate change effects is the population density andsize with respect to the greenery level. Then we also found the average UGS provision per person and detectedsignificant differences even in some neighbouring districts. By comparing the results of calculating the greenerylevel and the provision of green spaces with the location of heat islands in Kyiv, we obtained precise sites ofcritical exposure of population to climate change effects. The map chart that was built based on these data canserve as a guide for priority UGS planning to protect Kyiv inhabitants from heat waves and heat stress.