ИСТИНА

Urban green infrastructure (GI) and protected areas (PAs) are specific nature and cultural spaces in cities exposed to various negative and positive transformations. These spaces have a wide range of ecosystem services which are crucial for the nature conservation and citizens at the same time. According to Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, CICES, NEA such cultural services as recreation, historic heritage, “sense of place“ etc. are included in ecosystem services. However, matter, energy and information balances are rather complicated urban spaces due to enormous technogenic impact on small area. Thus, ecosystem and social aspects are in great contradiction. Total institutional value according to functional zoning (I) and actual lanscape deterioration through on-site surveys and ability to proceed ecosystem services through InVEST tools (E) were assessed. Moreover, cultural (or social) value on the basis of functional zoning and GI popularity among visitors was assessed (S). Differences of I and E, E and S were analyzed through integrated maps in QGIS. The case areas of study are three PAs in Moscow (Russia), but it is possible to extend such method to other cities and green areas. According to gained through assessment maps E-I and E-S parameters were analyzed: they have values from -5.8 to -1.6 (possible values vary from -20 to 20). Strong spatial differences are existing: riparian forests and meadows are under strong human impact and mild regulations, despite its high ecosystem value. Moreover, restrictions of all PAs are quite insufficient to sustain biotopes. Besides this, according to poll of citizens, environmental factors are less important, than economic and cultural ones. Likewise, citizens are more interested in cultural landscapes with forest plantations, than natural biotopes preserved in these cities yet. The used group of methods may be used to resolve a dilemma between protection and exploitation and to define the most of gaps in green infrastructure planning and management.