Land Uses and Environmental Quality: Mapping Urban Ecosystems

The research focuses on environmental and ecosystem planning for the reconstruction master plan of the city of Mykolaiv, Ukraine. The process began by assessing the site’s environmental characteristics using the soil impermeability index and NDVI, which formed the foundation for modeling within a GIS environment. Two main models were developed: the Habitat Quality Index and the Stormwater Manage- ment Model. The Habitat Quality model uses land use/land cover data and biodiver- sity threat assessments to produce maps that reflect the quality and degradation state of natural habitats. This serves as a key indicator of biodiversity levels: habitat loss and degradation typically reduce biodiversity, while the opposite trends can enhance it. The Stormwater Management Model provides insights into soil behavior in urban areas by analyzing water retention, infiltration, and surface runoff. It is useful for identifying highly sealed and poorly vegetated zones where water cannot infiltrate and flows on the surface. Based on the outputs of both models, a multifunctional green infrastructure network was designed to improve ecosystem service provision and increase soil permeability in urban areas. This network is divided into three types: urban (to improve permeability and connect green spaces in the city center), peri- urban (to enhance connections between center and outskirts), and primary (in natural and rural areas, aiming at conservation and accessibility). Finally, a set of Nature- Based Solutions (NBS) was identified and mapped. These were categorized into six types and evaluated based on their function (mitigation/adaptation), scale (city, neighborhood, building), and temporal effectiveness (short-, medium-, or long-term)