Recently wide process of urbanisation and migration of inhabitants from rural areas to large cities occurs in Latvia. The proportion of green areas in urban territories is decreasing with time, therefore it is important to maintain the existing greenery system and build a new ecosystem that would connect the existing areas. Currently the principles of landscape eco-logy and aesthetics are not always included in urban planning or land use plans in Latvia. The aim of the study was to assess landscape ecological aesthetic characteristics of green areas in four Latvian cities – Liepaja, Jelgava, Rezekne and Valmiera. The evaluation matrix contains the following criteria for assessing the landscape aesthetics: the order, accordance to the nearby architecture, visible human intention, particularity, and the following criteria for assessing the landscape ecology: biodiversity, dominance of native species, naturalness and wilderness. In the research, a variety of urban green areas – such as parks, squares and waterfront areas – was evaluated.

Article in: English

Article published: 2013-10-21