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Afforestation of Urban Brownfields as a Nature-Based Solution. Experiences from a Project in Leipzig (Germany)

Author

Listed:
  • Dieter Rink

    (Department of Urban and Environmental Sociology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, 04318 Leipzig, Germany)

  • Catrin Schmidt

    (Institute of Landscape Architecture, University of Dresden (TU Dresden), 01062 Dresden, Germany)

Abstract

In Leipzig, despite strong growth, reurbanization and re-densification, in the last decade it has still been possible for the city to green brownfields with a new type of green space: urban forests. The background to this was of course the city’s decades of shrinkage and the emergence of numerous brownfields. The city of Leipzig started urban redevelopment in 2001 and pursued the strategy “more green, less density” in its planning. This included the creation of traditional and new green spaces as well as temporary uses. New green space concepts were also experimented with, including pocket forests and urban forests on larger, inner-city brownfields. This pursued several objectives: the forest was meant to contribute to improving the urban climatic and air-hygienic situation, to enhance the value of adjacent areas, create new recreational opportunities and contribute to increasing biodiversity. Another aspect is also the financing, for instance, the afforestation of brownfields is the cheapest way to create greenery. As a result of almost ten years of interdisciplinary monitoring of the project, it can now be stated that urban forests fulfil the objectives and are accepted and used by the population. Urban forests do not constitute an independent or new type of nature-based solutions they create new ecosystems from existing abandoned, brownfields, or neglected area.

Suggested Citation

  • Dieter Rink & Catrin Schmidt, 2021. "Afforestation of Urban Brownfields as a Nature-Based Solution. Experiences from a Project in Leipzig (Germany)," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-17, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:10:y:2021:i:9:p:893-:d:621700
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Muschak, Caroline & Weiland, Ulrike & Banzhaf, Ellen, 2009. "Brachflächen in Stadtentwicklung und kommunalen Planungen am Beispiel der Städte Leipzig und Stuttgart," UFZ Reports 02/2009, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ).
    2. Diana Dushkova & Dagmar Haase, 2020. "Not Simply Green: Nature-Based Solutions as a Concept and Practical Approach for Sustainability Studies and Planning Agendas in Cities," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-37, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Romana Hajduková & Alžbeta Sopirová, 2022. "Perspectives of Post-Industrial Towns and Landscape in Eastern Slovakia—Case Study Strážske," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-20, July.
    2. Barbara Vojvodíková & Iva Tichá & Anna Starzewska-Sikorska, 2022. "Implementing Nature-Based Solutions in Urban Spaces in the Context of the Sense of Danger That Citizens May Feel," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-21, October.
    3. Diana Dushkova & Annegret Haase & Manuel Wolff & Dagmar Haase, 2021. "Editorial for Special Issue “Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) in Cities and Their Interactions with Urban Land, Ecosystems, Built Environments and People: Debating Societal Implications”," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-7, September.
    4. Henry Lippert & Ingo Kowarik & Tanja M. Straka, 2022. "People’s Attitudes and Emotions towards Different Urban Forest Types in the Berlin Region, Germany," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-21, May.

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