@conference{
author = "Živanović, Nikola and Kašanin-Grubin, Milica and Ferreira, Carla and Rončević, Vukašin and Veselinović, Gorica and Antić, Nevena and Štrbac, Snežana",
year = "2022",
abstract = "Urban forest includes individual trees, but also associated vegetation and the soil
beneath the trees. In many regions, urban forests are the most extensive, functional
and visible form of green infrastructure in cities and occupy an important place in
mitigating and adapting to climate change and preservation of forest ecosystems.
These forests are safe islands for biodiversity and play a key role in preserving human
health and raising the quality of life in the city. However, urban forests face many challenges
including difficult growing condition, insufficient resources for proper care and
problems for development, which are enhanced by incomplete public understanding of
benefits that urban forests provide. Urban soils are often subject to several degradation
processes, such as erosion, compaction and pollution.
The Košutnjak urban forest (Belgrade, Serbia), occupies a total area of 305.32 ha, of
which 83% is forested. In 2014, 93% of the area was declared a Monument of Nature
“Košutnjak Forest” while the remaining 7% of the forest is intended for recreation
and general cultural and educational functions. The stand is mostly natural deciduous
hardwood tree and covers almost 70% of the forest. Košutnjak is home to many plant
and animal species, some of which are under strict protection. There are 521 plant
species, including for example oak (Quercus sp.), chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum),
cedar (Cedrus sp.), pine (Pinus sp.), hazel (Corylus sp.). In 2015, the average age
of the trees has been estimated to be 60–70 years. During the same year, about
50 ha of Košutnjak has been re-forested with 4,400 seedlings of ash (Fraxinus sp.)
and sycamore (Platanus sp.). However, trees in Košutnjak present a poorly developed
canopy, often rotten. The forest was seriously affected by the snowfall in December
2021, when a large number of trees fell, broke and bent. The general condition of the
forest is unfavorable, the assembly is interrupted and damaged. Due to steep slopes
and generally poor condition of vegetation, erosion processes are observed in the form
of scouring, rills, gullies and local movements of soil masses. Other forms of physical
degradation include compaction namely in observed wheel tracks.
The aim of this study is to investigate the connection between the productivity of forest
ecosystems and soil quality. Soil physical- chemical characteristics contribute to
determining the sensitivity of the soil of the urban forest Košutnjak to degradation processes
and the connection between the state of vegetation and soil quality. The study
is based on the detail analyses of the data of the current state of land and vegetation,
as well as expected deviations due to the impact of selected climate change scenarios.
Three potential climate scenarios were tested and contribute to understanding the
possibility of adapting the Košutnjak urban forest to degradation processes and soil
nutrient losses favored by climate change. This knowledge will aid in determining proposed
measures and strategies to mitigate the effects of land degradation processes
based on the principle of environmental engineering. The study introduces a new
framework for valorization of the current and future state of land and vegetation in
the urban forest Košutnjak. The results provide a basis for mitigating or restoring land
degradation, which inevitably arises from the management practices. With application
of anti-erosion, remediation and prevention measures and application of natureinspired
solutions and ecosystem services, the condition of the land will be improved.",
publisher = "Banja Luka, the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina : Faculty of Forestry, University of Banja Luka",
journal = "Book of abstracts - International Scientific Conference Forestry Science for Sustainable Development - FORS2D, Perspectives of forestry and related sectors as drivers of sustainable development in the post-Covid era, 29-30 September 2022, Banja Luka, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina",
title = "Increase of Urban Forests Sustainability by Assessing Landscape Sensitivity",
pages = "102-103",
url = "https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_cer_6586"
}
