The human ecological significance of urban green spaces
Keywords:
urbanization, green spaces, urban development, biodiversity, sustainability
Abstract
The proportion of the world’s population living in cities is steadily increasing, intensifying pressure on natural resources and urban ecosystems, particularly in historically developed large cities. Urbanisation poses significant environmental challenges, including biodiversity loss, habitat fragmentation, and deteriorating urban climate conditions. This study aims to highlight the role of sustainable urbanisation and urban green infrastructure in mitigating the negative environmental and social impacts of urban growth, with a particular focus on biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services, and human well-being. The paper is based on a comprehensive review and synthesis of international and Hungarian scientific literature, policy documents, and urban planning concepts related to sustainability, green spaces, biodiversity, and urban ecology. Comparative examples from European cities are used to illustrate best practices in integrating green areas and ecological networks into urban structures. The analysis demonstrates that urban green spaces – regardless of whether they are of natural or artificial origin – provide essential ecological, climatic, social, and health-related functions. Well-connected green networks reduce habitat fragmentation, mitigate urban heat island effects, improve air quality, and contribute to physical and mental health. Furthermore, large, integrated green areas can significantly enhance urban sustainability and resilience. Preserving and expanding urban green spaces and ecological networks is a key prerequisite for livable, climate-adaptive, and healthy cities in the context of ongoing urbanisation.
References
Akıncı, İ., Pouya, S. (2019). The eco-city proposal as a sustainable city model. Turkish Journal of Landscape Research. 2(2), 96–107. URL: https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/1141617 (Downloaded: 22 December 2025)
Akkoy, S., Şahin, M., Avşar, E. (2025). Evaluation of urban green area development in the context of sustainable eco-city perspective: Bilecik (city center) case study. Brazilian Journal of Science. 4(5), 36–50. DOI: 10.14295/bjs.v4i5.721
Budapest Főváros Főpolgármesteri Hivatal (n. d.). Zöldfejlesztések. Budapest.hu. URL: https://budapest.hu/zold-budapest/zoldfejlesztesek (Downloaded: 1 December 2025)
EC – European Commission (2020). Green City Accord. URL: https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/urban-environment/green-city-accord_en (Downloaded: 13 December 2025)
Essential Living (2025). The Greenest Cities in Europe in 2025. URL: https://www.essentialliving.co.uk/blogs-insights/the-greenest-cities-in-europe/ (Downloaded: 17 November 2025)
Eurocities (2025). Vilnius named the 2025 European Green Capital. Eurocities. URL: https://eurocities.eu/latest/vilnius-the-2025-european-green-capital/ (Downloaded: 17 November 2025)
Finke, L. (1996). Landschaftsökologie. 3. verbesserte Auflage. Westermann Verlag, Braunschweig.
Gábor P., Jombach S. (2008). A zöldfelület intenzitás és a városi hősziget jelenségének összefüggései Budapesten. Falu, város, régió. 2008/1, 31–36. URL: https://archiv2011-2022regionalispolitika.kormany.hu/download/f/e1/31000/FVR_2008_1_NTH.pdf (Downloaded: 15 November 2025)
Glasco, J. (2022). Ljubljana: A smart, green, and sustainable city. Bee Smart City. URL: https://www.beesmart.city/en/smart-city-blog/ljubljana-a-smart-green-and-sustainable-city (Downloaded: 13 December 2025)
Goudie, A., Viles, H. (1997). The Earth Transformed: An Introduction to Human Impacts on the Environment. Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford.
Hancock, L. (n. d.). What is biodiversity? WWF. URL: https://www.worldwildlife.org/resources/explainers/what-is-biodiversity/ (Downloaded: 13 December 2025)
Kisvarga Sz. (2023). A város zöldfelületek szerepe. Greenfo, zöld iránytű a neten. URL: https://greenfo.hu/hir/a-varosi-zoldfeluletek-szerepe/ (Downloaded: 12 November 2025)
Kisvarga Sz., Orlóci L. (2025). Zöldfelületek szerepe a városokban. URL: https://tajepiteszet.uni-mate.hu/z%C3%B6ldfel%C3%BCletek-szerepe-a-v%C3%A1rosokban
Lányi G. (2000): Településkörnyezet I. A természet a településben. In: Enyedi György (szerk.): Magyarország településkörnyezete. Magyar Tudományos Akadémia, Budapest. 99–150.
Levegő Munkacsoport (n. d.). Fogalommagyarázat – a városi zöldfelületek és zöldterületek. Levegő Munkacsoport. URL www.levego.hu/kapcsolodo-anyagok/fogalommagyarazat-a-varosi-zoldfeluletek-es-zoldteruletek/ (Downloaded: 13 December 2025)
Liu, Z., Chen, X., Cui, H., Ma, Y., Gao, N., Li, X., Meng, X., Lin, H., Abudou, H., Guo, L., Liu, Q. (2023). Green space exposure on depression and anxiety outcomes: A meta-analysis. Environmental research. 231(Part 3), 116303. DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116303
Loughlin, B. (2024) What is a green city, and how is it built? Institute of Sustainability studies. URL: https://instituteofsustainabilitystudies.com/insights/lexicon/what-is-a-green-city-and-how-is-it-built/ (Downloaded: 13 December 2025)
Mason, P. (2003). Tourism Impacts, Planning and Management. Butterworth – Heinemann, Oxford.
Miller, G. T., Spoolman, S. (2008). Environmental Science: Problems, Concepts and Solutions. Brooks Cole, Belmont.
Mocca, E., Friesenecker, M., Kazepov, Y. (2020). Greening Vienna. The multi-level interplay of urban environmental policy-making. Sustainability. 12(4). DOI: 10.3390/su12041577
Molnár Zs. (szerk.) (2020). Budapest Környezeti Állapotértékelése 2019–2020. URL: https://archiv.budapest.hu/Documents/BKAE/2019-2020/12_BKÁÉ-2020_I-2-Zöldfelületek.pdf (Downloaded: 13 December 2025)
Nastran, M., Hollerer, A., Ruess, S., Dalton, D. (2025): Establishment of the Miyawaki forest at Carinthia University of Applied Sciences in Villach. Carinthia Nature Tech. 2(2), 78–83. URL: https://journal.carinthia-2.at/part3/article/view/23/25 (Downloaded: 17 December 2025)
Perényi I. (1975). Városi környezet – városépítészet. Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest. URL: https://real-eod.mtak.hu/10757/1/AkademiaiKiado_001184.pdf (Downloaded: 12 November 2025)
Radó D. (1985). Budapesti parkok és kertek. Magyar Nemzeti Galéria, Budapest.
Schipperijn, J., Stigsdotter, U. K., Randrup, T. B., Troelsen, J. (2010). Influences on the use of urban green space – A case study in Odense, Denmark. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. 9(1), 25–32. DOI: 10.1016/j.ufug.2009.09.002
Statuto, D., Cillis, G., Picuno, P. (2021). The role of green areas in the City of Matera (Southern Italy) as a recreational and tourist potential for its territory. Iris. URL: https://iris.unibas.it/handle/11563/148934 (Downloaded: 12 November 2025)
Stefano Boeri Architetti (n. d.). Vertical Forest Milan. Stefano Boeri Architetti. URL: https://www.stefanoboeriarchitetti.net/en/project/vertical-forest/ (Downloaded: 22 December 2025)
Texas Trees Foundation (2017). Urban Heat Island Management Study, Dallas 2017. URL: https://www.texastrees.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Urban-Heat-Island-Study-August-2017.pdf (Downloaded: 17 November 2025)
The Climate Reality Project (2025). The Alliance for Climate Protection®: Five Sustainable Cities Making a Difference for the Planet. The Climate Reality Project. URL: https://www.climaterealityproject.org/blog/five-sustainable-cities-making-difference-planet (Downloaded: 21 November 2025)
Urban Forests (n. d.). Plant your own microforest and breathe new life into your environment with the experts. Urban Forests. URL: https://www.urbanforest.be/en/home-4/ (Downloaded: 12 November 2025)
Webber, S. (n. d.) The Miyawaki Method for Creating Forests. Creating Tomorrow’s Forests. URL: https://www.creatingtomorrowsforests.co.uk/blog/the-miyawaki-method-for-creating-forests (Downloaded: 12 November 2025)
World Bank (n. d.). Urban population. World Bank. URL: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.URB.TOTL (Downloaded: 13 December 2025)
Zhang, Y., Wu, T., Yu, H., Fu, J., Xu, J., Liu, L., Tang, C., Li, Z. (2024). Green spaces exposure and the risk of common psychiatric disorders: A meta-analysis. SSM – Population Health. 25, 101630. DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2024.101630
Akkoy, S., Şahin, M., Avşar, E. (2025). Evaluation of urban green area development in the context of sustainable eco-city perspective: Bilecik (city center) case study. Brazilian Journal of Science. 4(5), 36–50. DOI: 10.14295/bjs.v4i5.721
Budapest Főváros Főpolgármesteri Hivatal (n. d.). Zöldfejlesztések. Budapest.hu. URL: https://budapest.hu/zold-budapest/zoldfejlesztesek (Downloaded: 1 December 2025)
EC – European Commission (2020). Green City Accord. URL: https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/urban-environment/green-city-accord_en (Downloaded: 13 December 2025)
Essential Living (2025). The Greenest Cities in Europe in 2025. URL: https://www.essentialliving.co.uk/blogs-insights/the-greenest-cities-in-europe/ (Downloaded: 17 November 2025)
Eurocities (2025). Vilnius named the 2025 European Green Capital. Eurocities. URL: https://eurocities.eu/latest/vilnius-the-2025-european-green-capital/ (Downloaded: 17 November 2025)
Finke, L. (1996). Landschaftsökologie. 3. verbesserte Auflage. Westermann Verlag, Braunschweig.
Gábor P., Jombach S. (2008). A zöldfelület intenzitás és a városi hősziget jelenségének összefüggései Budapesten. Falu, város, régió. 2008/1, 31–36. URL: https://archiv2011-2022regionalispolitika.kormany.hu/download/f/e1/31000/FVR_2008_1_NTH.pdf (Downloaded: 15 November 2025)
Glasco, J. (2022). Ljubljana: A smart, green, and sustainable city. Bee Smart City. URL: https://www.beesmart.city/en/smart-city-blog/ljubljana-a-smart-green-and-sustainable-city (Downloaded: 13 December 2025)
Goudie, A., Viles, H. (1997). The Earth Transformed: An Introduction to Human Impacts on the Environment. Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford.
Hancock, L. (n. d.). What is biodiversity? WWF. URL: https://www.worldwildlife.org/resources/explainers/what-is-biodiversity/ (Downloaded: 13 December 2025)
Kisvarga Sz. (2023). A város zöldfelületek szerepe. Greenfo, zöld iránytű a neten. URL: https://greenfo.hu/hir/a-varosi-zoldfeluletek-szerepe/ (Downloaded: 12 November 2025)
Kisvarga Sz., Orlóci L. (2025). Zöldfelületek szerepe a városokban. URL: https://tajepiteszet.uni-mate.hu/z%C3%B6ldfel%C3%BCletek-szerepe-a-v%C3%A1rosokban
Lányi G. (2000): Településkörnyezet I. A természet a településben. In: Enyedi György (szerk.): Magyarország településkörnyezete. Magyar Tudományos Akadémia, Budapest. 99–150.
Levegő Munkacsoport (n. d.). Fogalommagyarázat – a városi zöldfelületek és zöldterületek. Levegő Munkacsoport. URL www.levego.hu/kapcsolodo-anyagok/fogalommagyarazat-a-varosi-zoldfeluletek-es-zoldteruletek/ (Downloaded: 13 December 2025)
Liu, Z., Chen, X., Cui, H., Ma, Y., Gao, N., Li, X., Meng, X., Lin, H., Abudou, H., Guo, L., Liu, Q. (2023). Green space exposure on depression and anxiety outcomes: A meta-analysis. Environmental research. 231(Part 3), 116303. DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116303
Loughlin, B. (2024) What is a green city, and how is it built? Institute of Sustainability studies. URL: https://instituteofsustainabilitystudies.com/insights/lexicon/what-is-a-green-city-and-how-is-it-built/ (Downloaded: 13 December 2025)
Mason, P. (2003). Tourism Impacts, Planning and Management. Butterworth – Heinemann, Oxford.
Miller, G. T., Spoolman, S. (2008). Environmental Science: Problems, Concepts and Solutions. Brooks Cole, Belmont.
Mocca, E., Friesenecker, M., Kazepov, Y. (2020). Greening Vienna. The multi-level interplay of urban environmental policy-making. Sustainability. 12(4). DOI: 10.3390/su12041577
Molnár Zs. (szerk.) (2020). Budapest Környezeti Állapotértékelése 2019–2020. URL: https://archiv.budapest.hu/Documents/BKAE/2019-2020/12_BKÁÉ-2020_I-2-Zöldfelületek.pdf (Downloaded: 13 December 2025)
Nastran, M., Hollerer, A., Ruess, S., Dalton, D. (2025): Establishment of the Miyawaki forest at Carinthia University of Applied Sciences in Villach. Carinthia Nature Tech. 2(2), 78–83. URL: https://journal.carinthia-2.at/part3/article/view/23/25 (Downloaded: 17 December 2025)
Perényi I. (1975). Városi környezet – városépítészet. Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest. URL: https://real-eod.mtak.hu/10757/1/AkademiaiKiado_001184.pdf (Downloaded: 12 November 2025)
Radó D. (1985). Budapesti parkok és kertek. Magyar Nemzeti Galéria, Budapest.
Schipperijn, J., Stigsdotter, U. K., Randrup, T. B., Troelsen, J. (2010). Influences on the use of urban green space – A case study in Odense, Denmark. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. 9(1), 25–32. DOI: 10.1016/j.ufug.2009.09.002
Statuto, D., Cillis, G., Picuno, P. (2021). The role of green areas in the City of Matera (Southern Italy) as a recreational and tourist potential for its territory. Iris. URL: https://iris.unibas.it/handle/11563/148934 (Downloaded: 12 November 2025)
Stefano Boeri Architetti (n. d.). Vertical Forest Milan. Stefano Boeri Architetti. URL: https://www.stefanoboeriarchitetti.net/en/project/vertical-forest/ (Downloaded: 22 December 2025)
Texas Trees Foundation (2017). Urban Heat Island Management Study, Dallas 2017. URL: https://www.texastrees.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Urban-Heat-Island-Study-August-2017.pdf (Downloaded: 17 November 2025)
The Climate Reality Project (2025). The Alliance for Climate Protection®: Five Sustainable Cities Making a Difference for the Planet. The Climate Reality Project. URL: https://www.climaterealityproject.org/blog/five-sustainable-cities-making-difference-planet (Downloaded: 21 November 2025)
Urban Forests (n. d.). Plant your own microforest and breathe new life into your environment with the experts. Urban Forests. URL: https://www.urbanforest.be/en/home-4/ (Downloaded: 12 November 2025)
Webber, S. (n. d.) The Miyawaki Method for Creating Forests. Creating Tomorrow’s Forests. URL: https://www.creatingtomorrowsforests.co.uk/blog/the-miyawaki-method-for-creating-forests (Downloaded: 12 November 2025)
World Bank (n. d.). Urban population. World Bank. URL: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.URB.TOTL (Downloaded: 13 December 2025)
Zhang, Y., Wu, T., Yu, H., Fu, J., Xu, J., Liu, L., Tang, C., Li, Z. (2024). Green spaces exposure and the risk of common psychiatric disorders: A meta-analysis. SSM – Population Health. 25, 101630. DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2024.101630
Published
2025-12-27
How to Cite
TenkA. (2025). The human ecological significance of urban green spaces. Cognitive Sustainability, 4(4). https://doi.org/10.55343/CogSust.21282
Section
Research articles
