USING VITALITY INDICES FOR MONITORING URBAN PLANTINGS

Green spaces in city parks not only significantly improve the quality of the urban environment, but also contribute to social interactions, making them an important factor in urban vitality, especially in densely populated and ecologically stressed metropolises. In conditions of growing anthropogenic load on urban ecosystems, especially in large industrial cities, green spaces perform critically important ecological functions. They help reduce air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions, regulate temperature, increase air humidity, and reduce wind speed, noise pollution, and other negative effects of urbanization. In this context, studying the species composition and vitality of trees becomes essential for monitoring and effective management of urban plantings.Special attention should be given to create a green space database for large industrial cities like Dnipro, where ecological stress has a significant impact on the state of the urban ecosystem. Despite some existing research in this field, there remains a pressing need for systematic studies of plantings’ vitality using modern methodologies, such as tree vitality indices. Conifers are of particular interest for urban studies, as they retain their ornamental appeal yearround and exhibit high phytoncidal activity, making them vital components in combating air pollution.Monitoring the vitality status of coniferous plantings will not only ensure their preservation but also optimize approaches to their use in urban landscaping, thereby enhancing the ecological stability of urban environments.