Ways to improve the efficiency of functioning

Abstract

Purpose. To carry out an ecological assessment of the condition of the urban green area – Gagarin Park – and to provide justification of ways to improve its functioning as a component of the urban green system. The methodology of research. An inventory of trees and shrubs was carried out in accordance with the “Instructions for the inventory of green spaces in populated areas of Ukraine.” The level of damage to trees and shrubs was estimated based on a visual inspection in accordance with the generally accepted methodology and scale for evaluating the condition of trees (deciduous and coniferous) and shrubs separately. Findings. It was discovered that the park's dendroflora consists of 48 species of trees, shrubs, and vines belonging to 24 family groups. It was discovered that the park's flora consists mainly of introduced species, with only 13 species being native. Analysis of data on the condition of tree plantings revealed that the majority of trees are in satisfactory or weakened condition. The tree stand damage index was calculated. Analysis of data on the condition of shrubs showed that 51.23% of shrubs are characterized by a good level of viability, while 33.95% are in satisfactory condition. When assessing damage to coniferous plantations, 26 cases of needle necrosis (23.42% of all conifers) and 68 cases (61.26%) of needle desiccation of varying degrees were recorded. A map of problem areas in the park was created. It has been found that Gagarin Park has significant ecological and recreational potential, but needs to strengthen its tree care system, gradually increase the number of native species, carry out sanitary measures, and expand nature-oriented solutions. The implementation of these measures will contribute to increasing the sustainability of the park ecosystem and improving the natural value of the territory in the long term. The originality. It involves the development of a new method for estimating the health of shrubs based on the level of damage, which allows determining the prevalence of weakened or damaged plantings and identifying species that require increased attention. Practical implications. The research results allow evaluating the ecological state of the urban green area – Gagarin Park in Dnipro, improving its landscaping and increasing the quality of the park's recreational infrastructure. The recommendations of the study can serve as a basis for further decisions on the sustainable development of urban green areas in the city.