Proceedings from the ecosystem services of urban rivers

Proceedings from THE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES OF URBAN RIVERS International Scientific Conference 19 – 22 APRIL, 2016 / CHATEAU KŘTINY (CZE)

Publisher: Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic

Proceedings from THE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES OF URBAN RIVERS International Scientific Conference 19 – 22 APRIL, 2016 / CHATEAU KŘTINY (CZE)

All papers published in this proceedings have been peer reviewed.

Editors: I. Lampartová, J. Schneider, V. Karber

Publisher: Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic

The conference is one of the outputs of the project: "Increasing awareness and propagation of functions of forests in landscape and in-nature riverbeds in urban environment as a component of ecosystem drainage basin service"

Supported by grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway

Š Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic ISBN 978-80-7509-465-0

Contents Abstracts from International Scientific Conference Flow-ability to the river: Toward inclusive rivercapes / Ani Çuedari, Florian Nepravishtab, Nada Ibrahimic, Enida Dashjad ....................................7 Chilean experience of fluvial bioengineering for river banks restoration / Samuel Francke-Campaña ...............................................................8 Identifying and valuation of ecosystem services in landscape by inductive approach: flood-plain forests at Danube river / Pavol Eliáš ................ 10 The movement of wheelchair users past the urban rivers / Pavla Kotásková, Jitka FIALOVÁ, Mariana Jakubisková ...................... 11 The Centrality of Felt Voice and Ownership to Developing Sustainable ‘Sustainable Drainage Systems’ / Glyn Everett ................................. 12 The relationship between the morphological status of the urban stream and the floodplain biodiversity – case study of the Leskava Stream in Brno / Jiří Jakubínský, Ondřej Cudlín, Pavel Cudlín ..................................... 14 Rain Water Harvesting as an Ecosystem -Friendly Way of Reducing of Costs of Water Supply and of River Pollution in the Cities / Jiri Moravec ....... 16 Using the Ecosystem Services Approach to Assess Benefits of Urban Rivers and Blue-green structure in Norwegian Cities / Kristin Magnussen ...... 17 How do perceive the residents around medium or large river their countryside / Igor Kyselka, Matej Jasso........................................... 19 Indicators for Cultural Ecosystem Services in urban contexts: a critical review for urban planning / Luis Inostroza, Daniele La Rosa, Marcin Spyra ....................................................................................... 20 Katowice experience of increasing general public awareness of river valleys’ significance as public space / Małgorzata Markowska, Agnieszka Gieroszka, Leszek Trząski .............................................................. 21 Correlations between Water Resources and Natural Ecosystems in Albania / Klaud Manehasa, Oltion Marko, Florian Nepravishta ......................... 23 The Olza river in the urban cross-border landscape of Karvina, Cieszyn and Třinec. Provision and demand of urban ecosystem services / Marcin Spyra, Luis Inostroza .......................................................... 24 Ecological, environmental and historical importance of the first systematic torrent control in the Slovak Republic / Matúš Jakubis ....................... 25

Human Activities and Biodiversity Protection - Case study of the Bata Canal / Jozef Minďaš, Jozef Tomek, Jana Skvareninova .............................. 26 The protection of cultural heritage and the landscape of the urban river waterfront of World Heritage city of Berat / Florian Nepravishta, Ani Cuedari ..................................................................................27 Tirana river waterfront development proposals of the new master-plan of Tirana city / Florian Nepravishta, Ani Çuedari ................................... 28 The Role of Urban Land-Use in Sustainable Urban River Management in Tehran Metropolitan / Sadegh Partani, Atieh Mahmoudi Mozafar, Heshmat Shirkoul, Hossein Hataminejhad ........................................ 29 Economic assessment of recreational ecosystem services affected by the rehabilitation project of a Finnish river / Matteo Simonetto, Alberto Baraussea, Ninetta Chaniotoub, Alessandro Manzardoa, Luca Palmeria, Antonio Scipionia ..........................................................................30 Riverbeds in urban environment and risks of water-borne diseases spreading in developing and developed countries / Ivo Pavlík............. 31 The Public Perception of Urban River Spaces in the Czech Republic / Ondřej Konečný ...........................................................................32 Evaluation of recreational potential of near-nature watercourses in urban area in the Czech Republic / Ivana Lampartová ................................ 33

Full papers from International Scientific Conference Correlations between Water Resources and Natural Ecosystems in Albania / Klaud Manehasa, Oltion Marko, Florian Nepravishta .......................... 37 The movement of wheelchair users past the urban rivers / Pavla KOTÁSKOVÁ, Jitka FIALOVÁ, Mariana JAKUBISOVÁ .................. 41 Economic assessment of recreational ecosystem services affected by the rehabilitation project of a Finnish river ....... / Matteo Simonetto, Alberto Barausse, Ninetta Chaniotou, Kainuun Etu Oy, Alessandro Manzardo, Luca Palmeri, Antonio Scipioni, ....................................................... 53 Ecosystem services of Urban rivers and blue infrastructure – a brief introduction / Jiří Schneider, Michaela Venzlů ................................... 62

Presentations from International Scientific Conference

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Abstracts from THE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES OF URBAN RIVERS International Scientific Conference 19 - 22 APRIL, 2016 / CHATEAU KŘTINY (CZE)

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Flow-ability to the river: Toward inclusive rivercapes Ani Çuedari, Florian Nepravishtab, Nada Ibrahimic, Enida Dashjad Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Tirana, Albania

Abstract People are one of the main factors influencing the river systems and their surroundings, through water consumption, pollution, land use, design interventions, water management strategies, attitudes, relationship with the environment, etc... The social aspects are very decisive for the river semblance.

The study tries to identify the interactions of water systems with social systems, in the context of trusting/supportive communities, which bring people together and reflect the diversity of backgrounds, ethnicity, race, culture of today’s society, taking down the physical and sociological barriers that stakeholders build. Riversides must be welcoming places, accessible to everyone, representing the dissimilarity in ecological systems and society, creating spaces where all members of the community can mix naturally. Sustainability problems can be assigned in relation to people’s needs, perceptions, claims, demands, intentions and behaviors.

The purpose of the study is to understand riverscapes from the general public point of view and find the guidance to the fulfillment of the desirable/livable conditions of a riverside environment. It tries to analyze and reconsider the development models of Tirana river waterfront from the perspective of people with disabilities or special needs. Such studies in the framework of the societal diversity, can be considered as very important for the long-term sustainable development of Tirana, having a strong impact in the main stakeholders and policy makers, not only of this city, but also to others similar to scale and development status.

Focusing on the existing context tensions between public and private interest, this paper concludes with the affinity of the riverside environment to increase equity, accessibility, safety/security, human – landscape interaction, improving human impact and public perception, livability, thus bringing positive social change.

Key words Accessibility, People with Disability, Human-Riverscape Interaction, Perceptions, Sustainable Communities, Water Systems.

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Chilean experience of fluvial bioengineering for river banks restoration Samuel Francke-CampaĂąa Chilean Forestry Service

Abstract The urbanization Spanish model deploy the cities adjacent to the rivers and actually the modern settlements impact into the fluvial ecosystems ,deteriorate the resilience capacity and the adaptability rivers function in terms of ecosystem services such as : support, supply ,regulation, cultural and the interaction with human wellness.

Chile is Andean and mountainous country, which determines that the rivers flowing naturally from the Andes mountain to the see with strong gradient ,depending inclined physiography and highly potential torrential of the river basins. A complex fragility is the management of hydrologic and hydraulic of water sources in terms of periodic cycle between drought and flooding with high erosive capacity and transport of sediment in the mostly watershed.

The anthropic factors aggravate the adequate planning and action for river restoration, in terms of deforestation and desertification process are reduced in the ancient times the riparian vegetation protection. Actually, sediments are removal for material construction in the urban areas affecting the ramble of rivers especially in rain season and several unsustainable farming, ,mining and industrial practices cause diffuse pollution .

Suburban and urban rivers experience are presented for the management of torrential strongly intervened basin like Maipo- Mapocho ,main river crossing Santiago of Chile, which are implemented in different perspectives ,functions ,times and spaces several kind of actions “gris infrastructure�. Adjacent to river parks city with ornamental species and the afforestation on the bank river with species mainly generous Salix, Acacia and Populus.

In several trials like a pilot projects are presented the results in various stages for the fluvial restoration of the rivers Cachapoal y Tinguiririca. They are vegetated with high density plantation(33.333 seedlings/hectare on the river bank,0.3x1m.) with species generous salix like biological trench ( Salix humbolteana, Salix viminalis y Salix alba) in combined scheme like longitudinal barriers( on the riverside) with species such as: Populus xeuroamericana, Acacia melanoxilum ,Robinia pseudo acacia and Alnus glutinosa.

The main conclusion is that combined bio filter scheme like biological trench on the river bank and longitudinal barriers on the riverside with highly density plantation successfully reduce erosion and sediment transport, they stabilize and

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deposited sediments on the river bank and the riverside, 90 percent survival at the beginning plant growth, nutrition trees not show deficiencies, its renatured the fluvial ecosystems, stakeholders participation is encouraged , job is created for crafts and furniture from mostly Salix viminalis , based on a forest sustainable management.

The adaptive and integrated management of rivers and watersheds represents a viable and sustainable approach that mainly considers measures to decrease the related impacts, facilitate the restoration of watersheds and include additional adaptive measures such as: the legal and political frameworks to protect buffer zone , measures to facilitate the re-orientation of rivers and watersheds evolution to new stages, preservation of minimum ecological discharge and the conservation of vital health of rivers.

Key words control torrents, cover-plants, biofilters, Salix viminalis

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Identifying and valuation of ecosystem services in landscape by inductive approach: flood-plain forests at Danube river Pavov Eliáš Department of Ecology, Slovak University of Agriculture, Nitra, Slovakia

Abstract Ecosystems are considered to be functional units of nature. External manifestation of ecosystem properties was valuated in a system of ecological relationships (ecological functions) and social/scio-economical relationships (social functions) (cf. Eliáš 1978, 1983). Environmental functions of ecosystems were defined as „the capacity to provide goods and services that satisfy human needs, difrectly or indirectly“ (de Groot 1992). The functions of middle (lowland) part of Danube river were identified, using a checklist of all goods and services (functions) provided by ecosystems, and their relative importance was indicated, using also the „amoeba-approach, by de Groot (1996). Regulation (5), carrier (3), production (3) and information functions were distinguished by the deductive („top-down“) approach and described. In the paper we identify and evaluate of ecosystem services of the floodplain forests at Danube river by inductive („down-up“) approach (Eliáš 2013, 2015). Quantitative data of field research near Gabčíkovo power-plan, Slovakia, on biodiversity, functional structure, biomass production, water regime of the forests etc., were used to indicate and quantify the ecosystem services. Specific horizontal and vertical structure and low LAI of the poplar stands, rapid growth of the tree species, high groundwater table in the soil and floodwater determine the water regime of the floodplain-forest communities as well as ecological functions, supporting ecosystem services in the Danube river area. Deductive and inductive approches are compared.

Key words deductive and inductive approach, ecological and environmental functions, Danube Lowland, poplar forests, Gabčíkovo, Slovakia

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The movement of wheelchair users past the urban rivers Pavla Kotásková, Jitka FIALOVÁ, Mariana Jakubisková Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic

Abstract The aim of the article is to define the basic parameters for the possibilities of making areas of the urban river banks accessible to people in a wheelchair.

Persons in a wheelchair need not necessarily use all the existing routes for pedestrians, but there are number of sites which could be made accessible to wheelchair users, supposing appropriate adjustments are made. On the basis of the knowledge of the needs of wheelchair users and the parameters set by Decree No. 398/2009, on general technical requirements ensuring barrier-free use of buildings, suitable surfaces and parameters for tourist routes – which should also include sites intended for relaxation and enjoying the scenery – need to be proposed. For example, access almost to the edge of bodies of water requires the selection of banks, where stability can be ensured via biotechnical or technical adjustments.

Key words disabled people, different surface, slope, stairs

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The Centrality of Felt Voice and Ownership to Developing Sustainable ‘Sustainable Drainage Systems’ Glyn Everett Centre for Floods, Communities and Resilience, University of the West of England, 3Q12, Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol BS16 1QY

Abstract As we have moved into the 21st Century, green infrastructure approaches to producing more sustainable approaches to flood risk management have gained much more prominence. A ‘Blue-Green Infrastructure’ (BGI) approach (bringing green infrastructure and water management together), it is argued, could reduce nuisance flooding whilst also improving water quality and offering amenity in both wet and dry conditions. BGI could further improve wildlife corridors and so increase biodiversity, providing urban cooling and boosting air quality, as well as offering greater access to local green aesthetics and so playing its part in improving people’s levels of happiness. The paper will begin by outlining the overall Blue-Green Cities (BGC) Research Project that the work was conducted within. Blue-Green Cities brought together a range of disciplinary expertise with the aim of evaluating and measuring the multiple potential benefits of a bluegreen approach, and developing new strategies for managing urban flood risk that could harness some of these benefits.

This paper is based on findings from qualitative and quantitative studies of public perceptions and behaviour around BGI facilities conducted in three different locations in the UK and USA over three years. The paper will argue that involving local people in the development and rollout of blue-green solutions will be fundamental to their longer-term sustainability. Firstly, specific knowledge of local water flows, potential blockages, soil types and so forth can ground and texture modelling and planning conducted at a larger scale or higher levels.

Secondly, local preferences need to be listened to and designs adapted to fit as well as possible with these, in order to encourage a sense of ‘ownership’ of facilities that can help to ‘normalise’ these changes (choice of flora and associated fauna, height and appearance of plants, regularity and styles of maintenance and provision of ancillary amenity spaces, etc.).

Ongoing discussions with local people can also help to raise awareness of system functions and potential benefits. This could firstly increase appreciation of services provided and so the systems as a whole, secondly develop understanding of appropriate behaviour to encourage functioning and thirdly, increase the likelihood of people getting involved with clearing and maintenance, which could in turn reduce costs for governing bodies and improve wider

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approval as spaces and devices developed. Discussions and awareness-raising will need to be both ongoing and creative, as populations change and people forget, to encourage local engagement and understanding over the longer-term.

Studies under the BGC project indicated that outreach could usefully be stronger, more innovative, more creative and longer-term. However they also demonstrated an uncapitalised potentiality within local publics in some areas, who appreciated the provision of green spaces and indicated willingness to become involved in looking after these. It is therefore argued that maximising local involvement and voice pre- and post-installation should be a priority concern for all blue-green infrastructure developments in order to achieve costeffectiveness, local democratic approval and sustainability.

Key words Blue-Green Infrastructure, Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), Ownership, Portland (Oregon, USA), Bristol (UK), Newcastle (UK)

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The relationship between the morphological status of the urban stream and the floodplain biodiversity – case study of the Leskava Stream in Brno Jiří Jakubínský, Ondřej Cudlín, Pavel Cudlín Global Change Research Institute CAS, Lipová 9, 370 05 České Budějovice

Abstract Morphological parameters of the river channel represent a partial indicator of the overall river network status which primarily reflects the nature and intensity of anthropogenic activities in the floodplain landscape besides the local natural conditions. Although the morphological characteristics of watercourses are usually considered only as supporting indicators useable in the biological assessment, it could be one of the key assumptions for the biodiversity status of river landscape. Therefore we can assume a greater importance of the watercourses with relatively good ecological potential at least in an intensively exploited landscape of large cities and their surroundings. As working hypothesis, the fact that the favourable morphological status of the stream can encourage the formation and diversity of natural habitats in the floodplain area was stated.

Optimal locations for the study of this dependence are located primarily in suburban areas or urban areas where the river channels have enough space for their natural or near-natural development.

Hydromorfological status, as a partial indicator of the overall status of surface water bodies, (related to the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC) was evaluated using the national Methodology of hydroecological monitoring – HEM (Langhammer, 2014). This methodology has been applied in evaluating the quality of the morphological status of the small urban stream (the Leskava Stream) which flows through the southwestern part of Brno. In the floodplain area all the habitats were mapped and their naturalness and biodiversity value were determined according to the Biotope Valuation Method (BVM) (Seják et al., 2003).

The contribution presents the preliminary analysis of the interactions between the stream and its surrounding, pointing to the importance of maintaining or restoring of near-natural state of the river network, not only within the suburban areas. Furthermore, the results may be used to identify the main drivers of relationships between the studied characteristics in the small urban stream catchment.

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Key words hydromorphology, urban stream, suburban stream, habitat naturalness, biodiversity value, river landscape

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Rain Water Harvesting as an Ecosystem -Friendly Way of Reducing of Costs of Water Supply and of River Pollution in the Cities Jiri Moravec Faculty of Environment J.E. Purkyne University in Usti n. L.

Abstract The projected climate change asks for new approaches of water management.

The expected long spells of dry weather and irregularity of precipitation in Europe and elswhere demand measures to reflect these changes. The European Framework Directive asks for a good ecological and chemical status of European waters to be reached within a given period. There are more ways to reach this goal, including effective public sewage treatment facilities, restoration of nearnatural riverbeds, and more stringent regulation for industrial discharges into waters. A supplementary measure would be to limit the quantity of water that is reaching the facilities and streams soon after a storm.

The urban roof-top rainwater harvesting is a suitable way to reduce costs of water supply and of wastewater treatment facitlities. It is also a way of reducing of stromwater runoff polluting rivers and other water streams in the citites. The article researches the current ecperience with water harvesting in the cities, use of various storage tanks, and its effects both in economic costs and in environmental outcomes. It inspects both low-tech solutions and more complex approaches. Related to the ecosystem services of the urban rivers, benefits of rainwater harvesting can be productive (economic/provisioning), regulation (ecological) and socio-cultural. Some of these benefits can be quantified and expressed in monetary terms.

Key words water retention, urban environment, water management, ecosystem services, urban adaptation to climate change

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Using the Ecosystem Services Approach to Assess Benefits of Urban Rivers and Blue-green structure in Norwegian Cities Kristin Magnussen Vista Analysis, Norway

Abstract Rivers and blue green structures are important for people’s welfare and wellbeing in modern cities. This fact has been better recognized during the recent years. Yet, many cities experience pressure to develop these blue green areas.

Further, the rivers and blue green structures in the cities are exposed to pollution and other pressures that may reduce their quality. This quality is important for the river ecosystems and hence, for the stream of ecosystem services these ecosystems supply. The benefits of keeping and/or increasing the quality of urban rivers are many. It is difficult to assess these benefits in economic terms, however, while the costs of preserving areas from urban development or measures to reduce pollution and other pressures are readily measured in monetary terms. The EU Water Framework Directive (which is implemented in Norway although we are not a EU member) applies to urban rivers as well as other water bodies. This directive also makes it important to be able to assess the benefits of urban rivers – and compare the benefits of improvements with the costs of improvement measures. The Ecosystem Services Approach can be a useful tool in order to recognize all the benefits we get from urban rivers, and how these benefits are increased when the water environment is improved and reduced if the water environment is detoriated. There have been several projects in Norway during the recent years which use the Ecosystem Services approach in order to recognize the number and size of the benefits from urban rivers and blue green structures. Some of these studies go further and put a monetary value on (some) of the relevant ecosystem services. Some of these projects aim at describing how the ecosystem services approach can be used to assess the benefits of urban rivers in a cost- benefit analysis, in order to assess whether the costs of improvement measures are “disproportionate” according to WFD. This approach was developed for rivers in Oslo city, the biggest city in Norway, with several rivers running through the city and into the Oslo-fjord. These rivers start from areas with little pollution surrounding the city (Oslo has large areas with forests in its surroundings), but most of the city’s rivers are heavily polluted when they reach the inner city centre and end up in the fjord. Further, many of these rivers have been led underground in order to develop the areas where the rivers used to run. In recent years, however, many of these rivers (or rather stretches of them) are opened up again, and Oslo local community spend money each year on these “river-opening” projects. We will describe how the benefits of these projects can be described, assessed and to some degree, monetarised, and

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how these experiences can be used further, and what are the lessons when it comes to the usefulness of the ecosystem services approach in order to assess benefits from urban rivers.

Key words Ecosystem Services Approach, Urban Rivers, Blue Breen structure, Economic Assessment, Benefits

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How do perceive the residents around medium or large river their countryside Igor Kyselka, Matej Jasso Ústav územního rozvoje, Czech Republic

Abstract „Border free river basins“. This is the name of of the four year´s project oriented primarily on the specifics of ihhabitants´ identity in river landscapes basins. German project partners presented with colleagues from nothern Bohemia border part of river Labe, experts from Tecnical university Bratislava river slovak part of Morava and hungarian partners dealt with Tisza near ukrainian and romanian border. According to the natural conditions, free type of river basins in each state were solved. These papers deals with identity in the neighbouring slovak region Záhorie. The questionaries tried to describe the specifics of the inhabitatnts´ identity and thein relation to the river, which is considered as dominant element of the region. While in the moravian area were only the comunes directly on the river bank researched, in Slovakia were also more far located villages chosen. River is usually considered as the important landscape element, well reliable for different leisure activities (mostly fishing), less as the source of income, but never as a barrier. The political and economical situation of the region is considered as well balanced with some problems like increasing unemploymence, criminality, some missing services and unsufficient possibilities for recreation and sport. Although is value of the natural environment highly admired, are also some negative answers, due to different limits from side natural protection and fishing. Rivers Morava and Dyje are no more as border rivers considered, but their natural and cultural value is more accented. The project results were in the english written book published and on more international conferences and professional journals presented.

Key words River landscape, identity, landscape management, fishing, recreation, floods

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Indicators for Cultural Ecosystem Services in urban contexts: a critical review for urban planning Luis Inostroza, Daniele La Rosa, Marcin Spyra Technische Universität Dresden, Germany

Abstract Urban systems, like any other ecosystem, provide specific services to their inhabitants and communities and they are benefited by surrounding ecosystems as well. Among the different categories, typical ecosystem services (ES) categories such as food production and erosion control usually have a lesser importance within urban contexts. On the contrary, the very diverse range of land uses in urban contexts provide specific cultural ES including recreational, cultural and educational values. However, up to date, a limited attention has been given to the provision of cultural ES, especially considering the relevant benefits that communities and urban planning processes can get from them.

Assessing the value of culture in terms of benefits or services is a complex and sometimes even controversial issue, as it makes necessary a mix of qualitative and quantitative approaches. Finding a proper way of assessing these services can provide essential insights for urban planning and management of different urban systems, especially for specific urban contexts where history, location and other features play a central role for the social identity and cohesion. In this manuscript, we review the existing approaches for the assessment of Cultural Urban Ecosystem Services (CUES), and provide a critical overview of how indicators are used to assess and measure CUES, looking at its applicability in urban planning. By querying to some academic database, the review records the state of art of scientific literature about indicators used for CUES in urban contexts. Our results shows that existing CES indicators have limited usability for urban planning and management. Moreover a lack of appropriate data use is a significant obstacle for proper CUES assessment. This impacts the potential for sustainable decision-making concerning CES in urban contexts. These issues, together with fact that most identified indicators are proxy ones, identify an urgent need to develop proper assessment indicators for CUES.

Key words Cultural ecosystem services, urban planning, indicators, review

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Katowice experience of increasing general public awareness of river valleys’ significance as public space Małgorzata Markowska, Agnieszka Gieroszka, Leszek Trząski Główny Instytut Górnictwa /Central Mining Institute, Zakład Ochrony wód Department of Water Protection, Katowice, Poland

Abstract In this paper, the authors would like to present efforts taken to raise awareness of significance of a small river in highly-urbanized area in point of view of general public, based on experiences from REURIS project, which has been implemented as part of the CENTRAL EUROPE Programme from 2008 till 2012. Main aim of this project, involving 8 partners from 3 countries, was development of urban river revitalization tools through transnational cooperation.

It was one of first attempts in Upper-Silesian conditions to involve local communities at all stages of the project implementation. Pilot action in Katowice (Poland) included preparation and implementation of a sequence of activities from the general recognition of the conditions of the local catchment area, through detailed analysis of Ślepiotka river corridor, selection of best vulnerable stretch for pilot investment, conceptual work and design, the implementation of the investment, the monitoring and evaluation of the results of the implementation.

In Katowice the process of public participation has started from a lack of belief that the polluted and devastated area might be transformed into real green-blue corridor and attractive public space. Two years course of carefully prepared and conducted set of workshops and meetings with stakeholders has resulted in citizens and agreement on common vision of revitalization. The result of citizens and experts’ cooperation was set of scenarios for land use management of the river valley’s corridor.

In this paper, the authors will present the methods used for public involvement and for maintaining participation process, direct results of public participation, as well as evaluation of the effectiveness of this process from the perspective of the past few years.

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Key words cooperative planning in the revitalization process, public participation, revitalization of urban rivers, scenarios for urban river corridor

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Correlations between Water Resources and Natural Ecosystems in Albania Klaud Manehasa, Oltion Marko, Florian Nepravishta Department of Urbanism. Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Polytechnic University of Tirana, Tirana-Albania

Abstract Albania has a lot of water resources including seas, rivers, lakes, lagoons as well as underground waters. Albania has about 485 mm an annual year precipitation, with the forms of rain and snow. Most precipitations descend from the rivers and flow into the Adriatic Sea. In a year into, the sea, flow 42 billion m3 of water, from which 12.8 billion m3 is corresponding to underground water. About 23% of underground waters are distributed in all country and is used by people for different activities. There are also a lot of kinds of natural habitats and ecosystems, such as Mediterranean shrubs, broadleaves forests, conifer forests, mixed forests, alpine and sub-alpine pasture ecosystems, meadows, rock area, marine ecosystems, coastal, lagoons and other wetland areas, lakes, rivers and agricultural land. All of them have good correlations between the vegetation and water resources. This correlation is evident near the rivers, lakes, lagoons, etc.

Key words Water, river, lake, sea, flora, forest, vegetation, precipitation

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The Olza river in the urban cross-border landscape of Karvina, Cieszyn and Třinec.

Provision and demand of urban ecosystem services Marcin Spyra, Luis Inostroza Politechnika Opolska, Poland

Abstract Currently cross – border regions and cities are the subject of deep debate in the European Union. Different policies, founds and projects attempting for more integrated development of borderlands have emerged. However, the ecosystem services approach has not yet been adequately included in the context of integration and governance of cross-border urban landscapes.

The present study analyzes the provision of urban ecosystem services (UES) of Olza River within three cities: Karvina, Cieszyn and Třinec, which are located in the cross – border region of Upper Silesia (Czech Republic and Poland). This ongoing research explores spatial methods for analysis of UES. This GIS based mapping exercise has been designed to reflect specificities of the urban crossborder landscape. The GIS based mapping is based on two spatial approaches: 1) an hexagonal grid distributed among the analyzed urban landscape and 2) spatial buffers from the axes of Olza river basin. Using spatially explicit data the study assesses the current provision and demand of UES by Olza River. This methodological approach helps to highlight certain urban and landscape crossborder spatial asymmetries, which are currently not included in urban and landscape planning and might be affecting governance.

UES are decisive elements for improving the quality of life in urban landscapes.

The study discusses the possibilities for integrating the concept in cross-border urban landscape planning and governance. It is argued that if the ecosystem services approach is to be used to construct cross-border landscape, it has to be made actionable.

Key words Urban ecosystem services, Cieszyn Silesia, Olza river, cross – border urban landscapes

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Ecological, environmental and historical importance of the first systematic torrent control in the Slovak Republic Matúš Jakubis Technical University in Zvolen, Faculty of Forestry, Zvolen, Slovak Republic,

Abstract The paper deals with broad meaning of the first systematic torrent control in the Slovak Republic. Torrent control Jelenec in the Hornojelenecká valley in Veľká Fatra National Park was built in 1926 - 1927. This functional historical torrent control 90 years since its inception, can serve as a model for designers of similar construction works. The finishes are timeless taken into account ecological, environmental and technical aspects in the line with today's requirements. The purpose of the building was primarily protection against flash floods and massive erosion that has occurred in the distant past in Hornojelenecká valley. Author of the project in the adaptation nasty modified (reinforced) stretches in built-up areas unpaved (natural) sections in a free country and at the same time ensured by a number of environmental objects (passage for fish, sills, low weirs) the existence of biological life in this torrent.

The proposed discharge profile with its discharge capacity into account, increases from the source to the mouth in watercourse Starohorský. For strengthening the flow profiles were in treatment torrent Jelenec used natural building materials (stone and wood). Adjusting torrent is also important in terms of educational, tourist and recreational potential of the Veľká Fatra National Park without disrupting of surrounding protected area.

Key words small watersheds, flash floods, landscape protection

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Human Activities and Biodiversity Protection Case study of the Bata Canal Jozef MinÄ?aĹĄ, Jozef Tomek, Jana Skvareninova University of Central Europe, Skalica, Slovakia

Abstract The analysis of the human influences on biodiversity is presented in the paper for the waterway of Bata Canal. Based on the field surveys of the tree, shrub and herb species, the current status of the vegetation along the Bata Canal has been analysed due to special biodiversity purposes. The field surveys and their synthesis have been a basis for the proposal of the management measures focused on harmonization of human activities (water way, cycling, fishing etc.) and protection of biodiversity within the water, litoral zones and vegetation of the banks.

Key words The Bata Canal, Biodiversity, Human Activities, Invasive species, Biodiversity protection

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The protection of cultural heritage and the landscape of the urban river waterfront of World Heritage city of Berat Florian Nepravishta, Ani Çuedari Department of Architecture. Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Polytechnic University of Tirana, Tirana-Albania

Abstract Architecture could be considered an imposing task. Human intervention inevitably changes the dynamics of a riverside landscape. But what if the dynamics could become part of the project? What if design manages to complete the landscape instead of transforming it?

The center of attention of this paper is the regeneration of the urban river waterfront of World Heritage city of Berat protected by UNESCO. The historical city and the Osumi River have a particular interest regarding cultural and architectural environmental values. During the centuries, the relationship between the historical city and the river was difficult because of flooding that occurred during the winter season.

The article is a descriptive and analytical study of the riverside promenade and the landscape development design competition for Osumi Island in Berat that aims to turn the historic city into significant and attractive center for regional recreation and tourism. The real challenge of these projects was the protection of cultural heritage and the landscape. The aim was a projection of sustainable urban regeneration on both sides of riverfront area, with the attention to the preservation of the urban heritage. It also strives to rely on a theoretical background on waterfront space redesigning, based on the European Cities development experiences in spatial characteristics, exhibited in riverfronts and on the potential of urban waterfront regeneration, as an instrument of economic development.

By exploring ways of resilience using the design for the island as a test site, it concludes that the planners should be very cautious of adopting successful international examples, for reasons of the uniqueness of the landscape and local environmental, physical, economic and political preconditions.

Key words waterfront regeneration, urban development, riverside promenade, landscape

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Tirana river waterfront development proposals of the new master-plan of Tirana city Florian Nepravishta, Ani Çuedari Department of Architecture. Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Polytechnic University of Tirana, Tirana-Albania

Abstract The center of attention of this article is the regeneration of the urban river waterfront, as one of the main urban and design questions of our cities, as a potential for future urban transformations and attraction to investments, advertisements, employment, industries, by focusing in a special case study, such as the one of Tirana River waterfront development proposal of the new master-plan of Tirana city. The study plan is concentrated in a self-made structure where people try to create their own model of living in the natural environment of Tirana, the river waterfront green area of the suburb, which can probably be an icon of chaotic development and informality, but at the same time an urban edge (where the city meets the river) with great opportunities for regeneration. This is a descriptive and analytical study of the master-plan proposals for the Tirana River waterfront, attained by GrimShaw and Dar AlHandasah international design teams.

Key words waterfront regeneration; urban development; Tirana Masterplan, Grimshaw, DAAR

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The Role of Urban Land-Use in Sustainable Urban River Management in Tehran Metropolitan Sadegh Partani, Atieh Mahmoudi Mozafar, Heshmat Shirkoul, Hossein Hataminejhad Civil Engineering Department, Islamic Azad University of Tehran, Central Tehran Branch (IAUCTB), IRAN

Abstract This paper presents the results of a water quality study that carried out on the urban river and urban run-off drainage systems of Tehran. This research aimed to investigate the effects of urban land use on urban water quality dynamics. The research was conducted to field studies such as sampling and water quality measurements in urban rivers and main collectors of run-off drainage systems and urban land-use classification. Sampling stations were selected according to land use and urban texture indices in urban sub-basins and sampling was carried out after 3 precipitations in all station simultaneously. Physical, chemical and biological variations of water quality were measured in samples. Multivariate statistical analysis was carried out due to some multi-scale statistic modeling.

Results showed that there is keep inter-relation between urban land use and water quality. Finding could lead the urban managements to organize the public transport, working hours, school hours, green space capitation and streets’ pavements material as the main effective parameters that have significant and instant influence on urban water quality. So urban management and unstructural measures and strategies were suggested for urban water quality control and improvements to increase water reuse in public water demand toward sustainability and SDGs.

Key words Ecological Role, Water Quality, Biological River Engineering, Sustainable Urban Management, Urban Run-off, Urban Rivers

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Economic assessment of recreational ecosystem services affected by the rehabilitation project of a Finnish river Matteo Simonetto, Alberto Baraussea, Ninetta Chaniotoub, Alessandro Manzardoa, Luca Palmeria, Antonio Scipionia Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, via Marzolo 9, 35131 Padova, Italy

Abstract The key role represented by the natural capital for the human wellbeing, together with the increasingly awareness about implication of anthropogenic pressures on the environment, has lead in the last years the scientific community to investigate the possibility to map and assess the ecosystem services, as demonstrated by the EU 2020 biodiversity strategy. In this work the rehabilitation project of the Finnish River Pajakajoki, providing improved conditions for fish spawning and increasing attractiveness of the area involved by the project, was considered to assess how improvements may affect some recreational ecosystem services. The evaluation was performed through data collection by an ad hoc questionnaire administered to local and non local peoples, focusing on four main ecosystem services: recreational fishing, free outdoor activities, non-free outdoor activities and cultural activities.

The combine adoption of revealed and stated preference methods allowed to highlight that rehabilitation project generated benefits quantifiable in +144.7 â‚Ź /person /year. Moreover, extending this value to all the current visitors to the area, it was observed that project costs would be compensated in about 3-10 years, justifying the rehabilitation project from a societal perspective.

Key words recreational ecosystem services, willingness to pay, marginal value.

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Riverbeds in urban environment and risks of water-borne diseases spreading in developing and developed countries Ivo PavlĂ­k Faculty of Regional Development and International Studies, Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic

Abstract Contaminated river water could be an important source of infectious causative agent in developing countries. The diseases are divided in four groups according to current scientific opinions: 1) water-borne diseases (microbial contamination of drinking water; infectious agents are ingested, 2) water-washed (water-scare) diseases (insufficient water quantities can course the transmission of infectious agents from person to person, 3) water-based diseases (causative agents of infections are transmitted directly through contact with contaminated water, 4) water-associated vector-borne diseases (ecosystems are conducive to vector breeding and insects breeding or biting near water can cause the transmission of causative agent of the disease. In developed countries the river water in cities and villages could be contaminated by viruses and bacteria (including nontuberculous mycobacteria) causing human infections. In river water sediments in studied region different mycobacterial species including Mycobacterium fortuitum, M. arupense, M. aurum, M. avium, M. celatum, M. goodii, M. gordonae, M. chelonae, M. malmoense, M. mucogenicum, M. peregrinum, M. scrofulaceum, M. terrae, M. xenopi and other potentially pathogenic mycobacterial species were detected. Due to these facts highly contaminated river water with organic material could be risky for humans in recreational areas.

This work was supported by the Czech Science Foundation (No. 16-13231S).

Key words zoonoses, epidemiology, anthroponosis, ecology, viruses, bacteria, moulds, parasites, waste water, water eutrophication

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The Public Perception of Urban River Spaces in the Czech Republic Ondřej Konečný Department of Environmentalistic and Natural Resouces, Faculty of Regional Development and International Studies, Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic

Abstract River or smaller watercourse flows almost in every town in the Czech Republic.

Public perception on the importance and role of watercourses in towns are different. Presented contribution tries to uncover these differences based on research in 17 cities in the Czech Republic (a method of personal interviews; 599 respondents). The results of the survey confirmed that the rivers are considered attractive space for leisure and that respondents appreciate especially that river functions which are associated with creating a pleasant and attractive environment close to nature. Therefore it is surprising that respondents indicate as significant targets revitalization of watercourses in particular those related to environmental issues, rather than strengthening the recreational function of the space revitalized urban systems.

Key words Watercourse, Public Perception, Recreational Functions, Revitalization, Town, Czech Republic

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Evaluation of recreational potential of nearnature watercourses in urban area in the Czech Republic Ivana Lampartovรก Department of Environmentalistic and Natural Resouces, Faculty of Regional Development and International Studies, Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic

Abstract The aim of the article is to present an analysis and comparison of provisional and newly acquired data from the evaluation of the recreational efect of adjustments watercourses in urban areas according to the methodology Lampartovรก (2015).

In the Czech Republic were selected rivers in the cities in which the methodology was applied repeatedly and confronted. The surveys followed on similar solutions eg. in Ostrava, Pล erov, Olomouc, and others. The criterion for choosing a model location was mostly the construction of nature-friendly adjustments to watercourse while seeking to increase the recreational potential of the area.

Key words River, city, recreation

Full papers from THE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES OF URBAN RIVERS International Scientific Conference 19 - 22 APRIL, 2016 / CHATEAU KŘTINY (CZE)

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Correlations between Water Resources and Natural Ecosystems in Albania Klaud Manehasa, Oltion Marko, Florian Nepravishta Department of Urbanism. Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Polytechnic University of Tirana, Tirana-Albania

Abstract

Albania has a lot of water resources including seas, rivers, lakes, lagoons as well as underground waters. Albania has about 485 mm an annual year precipitation, with the forms of rain and snow. Most precipitations descend from the rivers and flow into the Adriatic Sea. In a year into, the sea, flow 42 billion m3 of water, from which 12.8 billion m3 is corresponding to underground water. About 23% of underground waters are distributed in all country and is used by people for different activities. There are also a lot of kinds of natural habitats and ecosystems, such as Mediterranean shrubs, broadleaves forests, conifer forests, mixed forests, alpine and sub-alpine pasture ecosystems, meadows, rock area, marine ecosystems, coastal, lagoons and other wetland areas, lakes, rivers and agricultural land. All of them have good correlations between the vegetation and water resources. This correlation is evident near the rivers, lakes, lagoons, etc

Keywords:

Water, river, lake, sea, flora, forest, vegetation, precipitation

1. Introduction Albania is a small, but very beautiful country, located in the western part of Balkan Peninsula, in the south-eastern part of Europe, between geographic coordinates 39°38′and 42°39′ of the North amplitude as well as 19°16′ east amplitude. Albania has only 28,748 km2 total surface that is closely the sea, field and mountains, and as a result, it has different clime and very good vegetation in vertical structure. The population is about 4.1 million habitants. The capital of Albania is Tirana. Albania enclosed from terrestrial, sea, rivers and lakes border. So, the total length of Albania border is about 1,094 km; from that 657 km are terrestrial, 316 km sea border, 43 km rivers border and 73 km Lakes border. Albania coastline is total [1] 427 km, from that 273 km are Adriatic Sea coastline (70% of this coastline is with sandy areas) and 154 km Jonian Sea coastline (30% of coastline is rocky area).

Average altitude from the sea level is 708.5 m. It signifies that as a point of view topographic–morphologic is typically a hilly-mountainous relieve. So, about 61% of Albania territory is more than 600 m above sea level; 25% is 300-599 m above sea level, and only 14% lies 0-299 m above sea level. Maximal height in Albania is 2,751 m (Korabi mountain), and the minimal is 5 m below sea level (ex Terbufi marsh) [1].

2. Materials and Methods The methodology of this study consists in a simple way, but this study is very effective one. More concretely, the methodology consists in gathering, selection, and classification of contemporaneous data for the main water resources in Albania as

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lakes, rivers, rain falls, underground sources, etc. In the same time, grouping and classification of forest ecosystems and other vegetation which are installed, are growing and developing in the very close correlation with water resources. In the beginning, it got information and elaborated the data for the main rivers, lakes, rain falls and their distribution during the year period. Also, an important considered element was underground waters which play a considerable role in the vegetation balance during different periods of the year [2, 3].

3. Results and Discussion Albania has a lot of water resources including seas, rivers, lakes, lagoons and underground waters. So, it can underline some water resources as Adriatic and Jonian sea; some lakes as Ohrid Lake with a total surface 363 km2 and 295 m deep; Great and Small Prespa Lakes; Shkoder Lake with a total surface 368 km2 and 45 m deep; Butrinti Lake with a total surface 16 km2 and 21 m deep. There are also a lot of artificial reservoirs and lakes as Fierza with surface 73 km2, 126 m deep; Komani with surface 213 km2, 93 m deep; Vau i Dejes with surface 25 km2, 52 m deep and Ulza with surface 14 km2, 61 m deep.

Also, in Albania has some glacial lakes (14 lakes but 7 of them have water all the time) as Lura’s lakes, Balgjajt’s lakes, Lukova’s lakes; Lennie's lakes, etc. and some lagoons, such as Karavasta’s lagoon, Patok lagoon, Kune–Vain lagoon.

But, in Albania, there are many geothermal water resources. Many authors are studying their use, chiefly for heating of buildings or for growing of agricultural products, and for decorative or forest samplings.

Albania has about 1,485 mm precipitation rainfall, which is higher in Europe. In the coastal areas, precipitation arrived at 1,000 mm, whereas in the mountain arrived at 3,000 mm. According to the stage, there are: about 40% in winter, 32% in spring, 17% in autumn and only 11% in summer.

More precipitations descend from rivers and flow into the Adriatic Sea. The snow rain precipitation above 1,000 m altitude is common.

The hydrographical network flows into the sea with an average of 42 milliard m3 one year, while only 12.8 milliard m3 is corresponding to underground waters. Rivers flow out from mountain zone inner of Albania, and only two of them have the spring sources outside of Albania border.

Some of the main rivers are: Drini, 285 km long and with average annual water discharge about 352 m3/s; Buna, 44 km long and with average annual water discharge about 670 m3/s, that is at the first rank of north Mediterranean, this river is navigable in a lot of parts of it; Mati, 115 km long and with average annual water discharge about 103 m3/s; Shkumbini, 181 km long and with average annual water discharge about 61 m3/s; Semani, 281 km long and with average annual water discharge about 95 m3/s; Vjosa, 272 km long and with average annual water discharge about 195 m3/s; Ishmi, 74 km long and with average annual water discharge about 21 m3/s; Erzenin, 108 km long and with average annual water discharge about 102 m3/s. About 23% of the total underground water sources are distributed in all the country and used by people for different activities and needs [4].

Chiefly, some main important factors in Albania are geographic position; geologic, pedologic and hydrographic factors; as relieve and climate; grow a very rich flora.

Many kinds of natural habitats and ecosystems are Mediterranean shrubs, broadleaves forests, conifer forests and mixed forest, alpine and sub-alpine pasture ecosystems, meadows, high mountain ecosystems, rocky area, marine ecosystems, coastal, lagoons and other wetland area, rivers delta and sand dunes, lakes, rivers.

But of course, the agricultural area contains main important elements for many plants and species and a high biological diversity. And all of them have good correlations between these vegetation and water resources. These correlations are

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evident near the rivers and especially in the deltas part of them. Near the lakes and lagoons or seas, the scale of biodiversity is higher.

There are five vegetation types in Albania:  Mediterranean vegetation type (Mediterranean makia);  Oak type forests;  Beach forests;  Fir forests;  Bosnian pine and Balkan pine forests.

About 36% of total surface of Albania is covered from the forest, 1,043,158 ha with a total standing volume of 81,334,000 m3, from them 62% are timber and 38% firewood. More forests lie it north–east and south-east part of Albania. In Albania, there are 361,568.7 ha (or around 12.58% of total Albanian surface) protected area, classified according to IUCN (The International Union for Conservation of Nature) criteria.

Some main forest types that grow in Albania are beech forest (Fagus), pine forest (Pinus), oak forest (Quercus), fir forest (Abies), strawberry scrubs (Arbutus unedo), hornbeam scrubs (Carpinus), etc..

Flora of Albania results with about 3,250 kinds of vascular plants, about 30% of European’s flora (with about 11,000 species). Flora of Albania represented from 165 family and 910 genders. About 15% of them are species of Balkans character and others sub-endemic. Meanwhile, Mediterranean floristic elements are 24% kinds, from which 8% are euro-endemic, 7% are steno-Mediterranean, 25% Mediterranean atlantics, 1.5% Mediterranean turaniane and only 1.3% Mediterranean orophite.

European floristic elements represented about 18%. Others floristic elements and euro-Asiatic are 14%, and euro-Siberian is 4%. Flora of Albania represented some Tercian relict plants as some kinds of flora are from different countries, notably the neighborhood countries. Since the last years, some species of flora are rare or in threaten. Therefore, different institutions and researchers have done different studies and classification based on IUCN criteria in the relation to present status, and set a monitoring process for most threaten species and give different recommendations for the future to conserve some of them or to protect their habitats [5].

So, actually, in Albania grows around 30 endemic species from the flora and 160 sub-endemic species from the endemic species. It can point out: Acanthalimon albanicum, Aster albanicus subsp, paparistoi, Arenaria serpentini, Centaurea candelabrum, Hypericum haplophylloides subsp, Leucojum valentinum subsp Vlorense, Ligusticum albanicum, Lunaria telekiana, Moltkia doerfleri, Sanguisorba albanic, Viola dukadjinica, Viola raunensis, and Wulfenia baldaccii.

Around 362 species of Albania flora are considered as threaten or rare species from the different study. 306 plant species are considered as threaten species, from which 73 are forest species. It has to underline three forest species: common yew, English yew (Taxus baccata), common horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) that considered relict plants of Terciar, as well as Delweiss (Leontopodium alpinum). And these threaten species in the three forests in Albania are in a continuing monitoring process [6].

Albania includes Mediterranean-sub-tropical climate, and many studies have identified three climatic zones: (1) Hills Mediterranean climate zone, where the average temperature is 11-12-15 °C, abundance rainfall, whereas the snow goes till 30-40 cm.

(2) Pre-mountain Mediterranean climate zone (with two sub-zone: north and south sub-zone), where the average temperature of 10-11 °C, rainfall of 900-1,000 mm or snow of 40-80 cm.

(3) Mountain Mediterranean zone (with four sub-zone: north, east, south-east,

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south) with an average temperature of 7-10 °C, but sometimes descended into 4-6 °C, even sometimes descended below zero. The maximum rainfall is 2,000-2,500 mm in the year, but the average is 1,300-1,800 mm in the year.

4. Conclusion Finally, as results of those very good conditions, the position of Albania and very rich water resources; here there is the vegetation that grows very well, and it has very strong correlations in continuity with those water resources.

The combination between the geo-climatic zones and topographic variation has produced 12 subzones that differ from each other in vegetation structure or species composition conditioned by the climate, water sources, soil fertility, and management practices. Therefore, to consider the strong correlation and its impact on the overall vegetation structure and production the application of sustainable practices of use and management is a necessity to reduce the effect of geo-climatic variation.

References A. Selenica, M. Kolaneci, Hydrology of Albania, Academy of Albania Science, Tirana, 1985, pp. 210-220.

P. Qiriazi, Albania Physic Geography, Tirana, 1986, pp. 321-340.

E. Canaj, H. Haska, Z. Rada, O. Marko, State Environment in Albania 2005-2007, Agency of Environment and Forestry, Tirana, 2008, pp. 533-535.

E. Canaj, H. Haska, K. Starja, B. Hate, State Environment in Albania 2008, Agency of Environment and Forestry, 2009, pp. 188-190.

D. Habili, S. Karadumi, J. Vangjeli, M. Dida, Ecological survey of the high forest of Albania, in Virgin Forest of Albania, Tirana, 1997, pp. 331-340.

J. Vangjeli, B. Ruci, A. Mullai, The Red Book, The Rare and Threatened Species in Albania, Tirana, 1995, pp. 50-250.

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The movement of wheelchair users past the urban rivers Pavla KOTÁSKOVÁ, Jitka FIALOVÁ, Mariana JAKUBISOVÁ Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic, Technical University in Zvolen, Zvolen, Slovakia

Abstract

The aim of the article is to define the basic parameters for the possibilities of making areas of the urban river banks accessible to people in a wheelchair.

Persons in a wheelchair need not necessarily use all the existing routes for pedestrians, but there are number of sites which could be made accessible to wheelchair users, supposing appropriate adjustments are made. On the basis of the knowledge of the needs of wheelchair users and the parameters set by Decree No. 398/2009, on general technical requirements ensuring barrier-free use of buildings, suitable surfaces and parameters for tourist routes – which should also include sites intended for relaxation and enjoying the scenery – need to be proposed. For example, access almost to the edge of bodies of water requires the selection of banks, where stability can be ensured via biotechnical or technical adjustments.

Keywords:

disabled people, different surface, slope, stairs

Introduction To create wheelchair-accessible routes where the tourist destination is the natural environment with bodies of water, the requirements and parameters of the persons with reduced mobility must be determined. Persons with reduced mobility are wheelchair users, persons with prams/accompanying children under 3 years of age, the elderly, pregnant women and persons using crutches, canes, walkers or other walking aids. These also include young people on crutches and with a leg in plaster. There is a great number of people with physical disabilities.

It is, however, a very diverse group, with large differences between the type and extent of physical disability. The situation is the most difficult for wheelchair users, which is why the group was selected as the topic of this article.

The current trend is to discover new routes which will allow people with physical disabilities to choose a home and way of life to their liking and live as independently as possible (without relying on the help of others, needing constantly to ask for aid). In this context, we must realise that the basic prerequisite for active participation of a person in social life is the accessibility of areas and buildings, and the ability to use them and move freely in them. It is the fulfilment of the right to freedom of movement in the broadest sense of the word. (http://www.czp-msk.cz/pdf/uzitecne/ATHENA_PRIRUCKA_KOMPLET.pdf) It is necessary to design tourist routes, which means hiking paths, cycle paths or nature trails, with the goal of allowing wheelchair users in particular to

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move independently, safely, easily and smoothly and pass by other pedestrians or bikers in the natural environment. Good example are routes already implemented abroad (see Pic. 1). This topic has already been looked into by authors such as Loučková, Fialová (2010), Jakubis, Jakubisová (2012), Jakubis (2013, 2014), Junek, Fialová (2012), Kotásková, Hrůza (2013), Jakubisová et al.

(2015).

The proposals included in the text below are based on the questionnaire survey performed within the project Trails for disabled people in the V4 countries, which was financed by the Visegrad Fund, and the project financed by the Internal grant agency of Mendel University in Brno.

Requirements for wheelchair accessibility The obligation to propose adjustments in order to facilitate independent movement of persons with reduced mobility is provided for by Decree No. 398/2009 on general technical requirements ensuring barrier-free use of buildings.

The passage of a wheelchair requires a path width of 900 mm, but in an area where the wheelchair user needs to pass by a pedestrian or where the wheelchair user needs to turn, a width of 1,500 mm is required. For two persons in wheelchairs to pass by each other, a width of 1,800 mm is required. The minimum space for turning the wheelchair by 90° to 180° is a rectangle sized 1,200 mm x 1,500 mm. The minimum handling space required for the turning of the wheelchair in different directions in angles greater than 180° is a circular area with a 1,500 mm diameter (see Pic. 2).

For this reason, sidewalks and hiking trails must be at least 1,500 mm, better yet, 2,000 mm wide. Obstacles on the path, benches, information boards and trees must be placed so that the area for walking along the natural guiding line is at least 1,500 mm wide. In justifiable cases, these can be placed so that the walking area is locally narrowed to 900 mm.

For barrier-free use by persons with reduced mobility, the following general requirements must be met: The maximum elevation angle which a person in a wheelchair can overcome is 20 mm. The maximum longitudinal gradient of the path must be at a ratio of 1:12 (8.33 %), on ramps of up to 3 m in length 1:8 (12.5 %). The maximum transverse gradient should not exceed a ratio of 1:50 (2 %). For bridge structures, the gradient must not exceed 1:40 (2.5 %) at a minimum walkthrough width of 900 mm.

With gradient greater than 1: 6, for example when entering a bridge structure, the wheelchair user might fall forward from the wheelchair when on the exit ramp at the end of the bridge. When going up the entry ramp, on the other hand, there is a real risk of the wheelchair toppling backwards. The wheelchair user cannot ride up a steep ramp without outside help. (Filipiová, 2002) To overcome barriers on paths for all groups of users, it is advisable to design different solutions and measures in parallel at a single point of the path to suit the individual groups. For instance, to overcome a certain elevation angle, persons with reduced mobility might make use of a ramp with smaller inclination, bikers might use a ramp with larger inclination, and the others might use stairs.

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Proposal for a trail and outlook sites In some areas, tourist trails can be planned in the vicinity of bodies of water.

The trails do not need necessarily lead along the body of water in their entire length. It is suitable to propose circular routes or create a connection to a trail network which would allow to shorten or lengthen the path as needed. It would be preferable to place lookout and rest areas with comfortable benches along the trails. These must be placed in such a way that the walk-through width of the path remains 1,500 mm at all times. Any section with a longitudinal gradient greater than 1:20 (5.0 %) and longer than 200 m should include rest areas with a longitudinal and transverse gradient of max. 1:50 (2.0 %). The implementation of these rest areas also takes into account the spatial requirements for wheelchairs or prams (see Pic. 3).

Pic. 1 Direction board alerting the viewer to position of the rest area with a view of the scenery – adapted for wheelchair users – Scotland (Photo: Fialová)

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Pic. 2 Minimum handling space required for wheelchair turning (Kotásková, 2015)

Pic. 3 Example implementation of rest area for the entire company including wheelchair users (Photo: Hrůza, 2015)

Direct access to the water is often not required; for the needs of the wheelchair user, a lookout area in close proximity to the bank can be designed.

The banks must be reinforced. In most cases, the banks of water reservoirs can be reinforced with mere vegetation adjustments. There are, however, areas where banks are becoming severely damaged and eroded by water, leading to the creation of abrasion platforms. Landslides and subsequent damage to the lookout area could thus follow.

One of the most suitable types of bank stabilisation is biotechnical revetment. The technical element is placed in the area where the bank is stressed the most, with the vegetation elements of the revetment being used in the less stressed areas (runup of the wave). Both elements overlap in the

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contact area. Wood-based modifications generally include multi-row wattle work, vegetated cribwork, fascine and fascine-gravel drums, vegetated rubble masonry etc. Technical methods of stabilisation can also be used, mainly: stone heels of slopes, concrete or reinforced concrete retaining walls, stone rip-rap, paving, prefabricated revetment, gabion etc. (Ondrejka Harbuľáková, Zeleňáková, 2013a) Based on general assessment, the most suitable type of revetment is a wellfounded stabilisation heel made of quarry stone of the required size supplemented by stone rip-rap or rip-rap vegetated by willow cuttings, with grass cover supplemented by bank-side trees at the top of the slope (see Pic. 4). (Šlezingr, 2004) A very suitable stabilisation element is gabion (see Pic. 5) and the currently popular wire-stone structures – wire-stone baskets filled with quarry stone.

These will mimic the minor unevenness of the terrain and are permeable to water. Stone, as a natural material, will fit the landscape better than prefabricated concrete panels or vegetation blocks, especially if vegetation begins growing through the stone. (Ondrejka Harbuľáková, Zeleňáková, 2013b) The revetted bank is then a suitable site for rest and lookout areas. These can either take the shape of paved areas or wooden plank structures (see Pic. 6).

These lookout areas can also be located above the body of water using bridge structures (see Pic. 7).

Due to the possibility of using sufficiently strong, load-bearing materials, especially pasted laminated wood, even large-span wooden bridges for high loads can be built. The advantage is that wood is capable of supporting shortterm overloading without adverse effects. Thanks to the development of connecting elements, it is possible to design architectonically demanding, modern, aesthetically impressive platforms and bridges. (Kotásková, 2013) The trail can also be designed as a nature trail with educational panels. Here, it is necessary to choose suitable height for the structure so that the boards can be read by wheelchair users as well (see Pic. 8).

The surface of the path should suitably fit the natural environment; however, unpaved surfaces or surfaces paved by a non-cemented material are not suitable for persons bound to a wheelchair. This is especially the case after spring thaw, long lasting rain etc. The surface of the path along streams should be paved, based on the character of the surroundings and frequency of use, by either close - to-natural means, bitumen or concrete.

The only non-cemented surface which can be recommended is a layer of mechanically reinforced aggregate with maximum fraction size of 32 mm. Other types of non-cemented layers with maximum fraction size of 63 mm cannot be recommended due to the thickness of the tires and the size of the wheels of nonmotorised means of transport. (Hrůza, 2015) For wheelchair users, the surface can be paved with compact asphalt layers.

The use of tiles with minimal joints (interlocking concrete pavers) is also suitable, though the material might not always fit the environmental character.

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Pic. 4 Vegetated stone rip-rap (Šlezingr, 2004) (Břehové porosty - Riparian stands; Vrbové řízky - Willow whips; Původní stav - Original state; Kamenný zához - Stone riprap)

Pic. 5 Placement of gabion for bank revetment (Šlezingr, 2004) (Keřové porosty - Shrub stands; Zásyp - Back fill; Břeh porušený abrazí - Shore damaged by erosion; Drátokamenná matrace - Gabion mats; Kamenný stabilizační pohoz svahu - Stabilizing stone riprap)

Pic. 6 Making the surroundings of the watercourse accessible for wheelchair users – Finland (Photo: Fialová)

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Pic. 7 Example of making the watercourse and the lookout accessible for wheelchair users – a section of the barrier can be opened – Finland (Photo: Fialová)

Pic. 8 Panel on a nature trail; positioned at a suitable height for wheelchair users (Photo: Kotásková) Bituminous (asphalt) surfaces are seen as the most suitable coverings, whether from the perspective of the evenness of the surface, the risk of slipping, movement comfort, functionality or durability (see Pic. 12). The highest quality bituminous covers which are commonly used are asphalt concrete, coated aggregate, or asphalt blanket. Sidewalks may be built from cast asphalt with concrete underlay. Currently, the most common cover for paths with bituminous pavement is penetration macadam. Penetration macadam is probably the least suitable for this purpose out of all the bituminous covers. The structure of this pavement consists of aggregate with rougher fractions (0 -32, or up to 64 mm), which leads to a rougher surface due to the rougher and more pronounced structure of the material. (Juško, 2015) The path must not include any barriers in the form of drainage or soakaways reinforced with stone, see Pic. 9.

In waterlogged or otherwise inaccessible areas, wooden corduroy walkways can be built. The walkable area is seated on longitudinal beams and consists of prisms, longitudinally cut round logs or planks attached to the beams with nails.

There should be at least 1 cm joint between the individual elements of the walkable area so that water can flow away from the top surface. The wooden

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elements should not be placed longitudinally, i.e. parallel to the trajectory of the path, since the longitudinal joints and potential unevenness of the individual wooden components could cause problems for wheelchair users (see Pic. 10).

The edges of corduroy paths should be lined with guiding rails taller than 60 mm to prevent potential fall off the road in case of a swerve (see Pic. 11).

Pic. 9 Path drainage – barrier for wheelchair users on an otherwise accessible trail (Photo: Kotásková)

Pic. 10 Unsuitable design of the corduroy road (Photo: Kotásková)

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Pic. 11 Suitable surface of the corduroy trail for wheelchair users (Photo: Fialová) Technical solution of proposal trails in urban areas (see Pic. 12, 13 and 14) are different in comparison with proposals in nature. They are more generously (see Pic. 15).

Pic. 12 View of the park Horné Lánice near river Hron in Zvolen (Slovakia) with the possibility of leisure activities "for All” (Photo: Jakubisová, 2016)

Pic. 13 Hiking trail near river Hron in Zvolen (Slovakia), suitable for wheelchairs. In the background, artificial canal built for water slalomkayaking (Photo: Jakubisová, 2016)

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Pic. 14 Detail of arch bridge with wheelchair access over the tributary of river Hron (Kováčovský potok) on hiking path in Zvolen, Slovakia (Photo: Jakubisová, 2016)

Pic. 15 Urbanistic solution of the municipal park Horné Lánice near river Hron in Zvolen, Slovakia (Sobota and Sládek 2009)

Conclusion The article lists the requirements for designing roads in the nature which would be suitable for wheelchair users. It is necessary to design paths for all, meaning the paths must be barrier-free. After building such roads, sufficient publicity must be created via the internet. The information about accessibility is the basic criterion when deciding on making a trip. The information must be sufficiently detailed to allow everyone to independently assess with certainty whether he/she can truly visit the given site. In addition to the description of the tourist route, other accompanying information is necessary: parking and refreshment options, accessibility and distance of a barrier-free WC etc.

Suggestions and demands to overcome of obstacles in landscape spaces - in natural conditions are different from proposals of architectural objects and spaces. Interventions into countryside (e.g. in Protected Landscape Area) are subject to strict laws that may be allowed only in exceptional cases (Jakubisová et al. 2015.

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References: Filipiová D. (2002). Projektujeme bez bariér. Ministerstvo práce a sociálních věcí, Praha 2002, 104 s., ISBN 80-86552-18-7].

Hrůza, P. (2015). Využití lesní cestní sítě a směřování zpřístupňování lesa v České republice pro osoby se sníženou pohyblivostí. In Chodníky pre telesne postihnutých ľudí na vozíku v krajinách V4. 1. vyd. Zvolen: Technická univerzita vo Zvolene, 2015, s. 53-61. ISBN 978-80-228-2757-7.

Jakubis, M. 2013. Torrent as an important component of recreational and touristic potential of the landscape. In: Fialová, J., Kubíčková, H., (eds.): Public recreation and landscape protection – with man hand in hand. Conference proceeding. Brno: MUB Facultas Silviculturae et Technologiae Ligni, pp 216-220.

ISBN 978-80-7375-746-5.

Available from: http://www.utok.cz/sites/default/files/data/USERS/u24/2013_RaOP.pdf Jakubis, M. 2014: Historical water reservoirs in the region of Banská Štiavnica and the possibilities of their recreational, tourist and educational utilization. In: Fialová, J. (ed.): Public recreation and landscape – with man hand in hand, Conference Proceeding, Brno: Mendel University in Brno, pp. 132-136. Available from: http://www.utok.cz/sites/default/files/ data/ USERS/u24/2014_RaOP_ 1st%20 part.pdf Jakubis M., Jakubisová M., (2012). Proposal of educational-touristic polygon in Račkova valley (West Tatras) in Tatras National Park. In: Fialová, J. (ed.): Public recreation and landscape protection - hand in hand. Conference proceedings.

Brno: Mendelova univerzita v Brně, pp. 58-62.

Jakubisová a kol. (2015). Chodníky pre telesne postihnutých ľudí na vozíku v krajinách V4. Zborník príspevkov zo seminára s medzinárodnou účasťou, Technická univerzita vo Zvolene, Zvolen 2015, 163 s. ISBN 978-80-228-2757-7.

Available from: http://www.tuzvo.sk/files/3_7_OrganizacneSucasti/ABH/zbornikvedeckych-prac_seminar-trails_abh-2015.pdf Junek, J., Fialová, J. (2012). Prezentace a zpřístupnění chráněných území osobám s tělesním a pohybovým omezením - Bez bariér v národních parcích TANAP a PIENAP. In Fialová, J. Public recreation and landscape protection - hand in hand. 1. vyd. Brno: Mendelova univerzita v Brně, s. 63-68. ISBN 978-807375-611-6.

Juško, V. (2015). Technické parametre líniových trás pre pohybovo hendikepované osoby na Slovensku. In Chodníky pre telesne postihnutých ľudí na vozíku v krajinách V4. 1. vyd. Zvolen: Technická univerzita vo Zvolene, 2015, s. 41-52. ISBN 978-80-228-2757-7.

Kotásková, P. (2015). Technické požadavky na dřevostavbu rodinného domu bez bariér pro osoby se sníženou schopností pohybu. Stavební partner. 2015. sv. II, č.

2, s.

12-17.

ISSN 1805-5958.

URL: http://partnerstvistavebnictvi.msdk.cz/emagazin/2015-02 Kotásková, P., Hrůza, P. (2013). Bridges and Footbridges in the Landscape Environment for Recreational and Tourist Use. In Fialová, J., Kubíčková, H. Public Recreation and Landscape Protection - with man hand in hand. 1. vyd. Brno: Mendelova univerzita v Brně, 2013, s. 14-18. ISBN 978-80-7375-746-5.

Loučková, K., Fialová, J. (2010). The study of the nature trail equipped by the exercise elements for disabled people and seniors. [CD-ROM]. In Colloquium of Landscape Management. ISBN 978-80-7375-397-9.

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Ondrejka Harbuľáková, V., Zeleňáková, M. (2013a). Technical measures of riverbank stabilization in engineering practice, In: Visnik : Teoria i praktika budovnictva. No. 756, p. 200-206, ISSN 0321-0499 Ondrejka Harbuľáková, V., Zeleňáková, M. (2013b). Riverbank stabilization as flood protection measures, In: Hydrologic risks - flood and droughts, Košice: TU, p. 140-151, ISBN 978-80-553-1492-1 Sobota T., Sládek, P. (2009). Mestský park Horné Lánice - Zvolen. Súťažný návrh.

Available from: http://www.tsobota.sk/mestsky-park-horne-lanicezvolen/ Šlezingr, M. (2004). Břehová abraze. Příspěvek k problematice zajištění stability břehů. Brno, CERM 2004. ISBN 80-7204-342-0.

Vyhláška č. 398/2009 Sb., o obecných technických požadavcích zabezpečujících užívání staveb osobami s omezenou schopností pohybu a orientace http://www.czp-msk.cz/pdf/uzitecne/ATHENA_PRIRUCKA_KOMPLET.pdf.

Centrum pro zdravotně postižené Moravskoslezského kraje o.p.s.. [on line]. [cit.

2015-10-10]. Dostupné z: www.project-athena.cz

Acknowledgement The article was created with the support of the project Trails for disabled people in the V4 countries (International Visegrad Fund’s Small Grant No. 11510242) and the project Internal Grant Agency of the Mendel University in Brno No. LDF_PSV_2016016 Opening up of the forest in terms of the changing social requirements and conditions.

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Economic assessment of recreational ecosystem services affected by the rehabilitation project of a Finnish river Matteo Simonetto, Alberto Barausse, Ninetta Chaniotou, Kainuun Etu Oy, Alessandro Manzardo, Luca Palmeri, Antonio Scipioni, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova

Abstract: The key role represented by the natural capital for the human wellbeing, together with the increasingly awareness about implication of anthropogenic pressures on the environment, has lead in the last years the scientific community to investigate the possibility to map and assess the ecosystem services, as demonstrated by the EU 2020 biodiversity strategy. In this work the rehabilitation project of the Finnish River Pajakajoki, providing improved conditions for fish spawning and increasing attractiveness of the area involved by the project, was considered to assess how improvements may affect some recreational ecosystem services. The evaluation was performed through data collection by an ad hoc questionnaire administered to local and non local peoples, focusing on four main ecosystem services: recreational fishing, free outdoor activities, non-free outdoor activities and cultural activities. The combine adoption of revealed and stated preference methods allowed to highlight that rehabilitation project generated benefits quantifiable in +144.7 â‚Ź /person /year.

Moreover, extending this value to all the current visitors to the area, it was observed that project costs would be compensated in about 3-10 years, justifying the rehabilitation project from a societal perspective.

Key words: Recreational ecosystem services, willingness to pay, marginal value.

Introduction The increasing awareness about the strategic role of the environment system in supporting human well-being, especially considering the natural capital it is able to provide, has led in the last years to the widely diffusion of the Ecosystem Services (ESS) concept (De Groot et al., 2002; Turner et al., 2003; Fisher et al., 2008). According to the contents of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA, 2005), which is an international project aimed assessing the effects of ecosystem change on human well-being, the ecosystem services are the benefits that people obtain from ecosystems. They support directly or indirectly the human life quality and they are substantially grouped into four categories: provisioning services, regulating services, cultural services and supporting services. According to another internationally agreed classification scheme, named CICES - Common International Classification of Ecosystem Goods and Services (Haines-Young et al., 2009), the ESS may be grouped into three categories: provisioning, regulation/maintenance, cultural.

Since the interest of the scientific community in the possibility to translate environmental benefits from ESS into economic terms has continuously increased

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in the last decades, starting from the probably most representative one of Costanza et al. (1997) many studies were developed on this topic. An important aspect to consider in valuing ESS is to avoid double-counting, which is possible according to a widely accepted suggestion making a distinction between services defined as “intermediate” (i.e. those generate indirect effects on human wellbeing) from those defined as “final” (i.e. those directly consumed, used or enjoyed by people) (Haines-Young and Potschin, 2009). Another key aspect to consider in ESS economic assessment is the spatial scale definition, in order to properly account for the ESS variation in space, particularly when considering land use (Luisetti et al., 2011; Gilvear et al., 2013). Benefits arising from ecosystems services in a specific time range can be assessed in terms of Total Economic Value (TEV) and in terms of marginal variation due to external drivers, like anthropogenic actions, providing an important support tool for policy makers to evaluate the effects of their choices. According to this statement, the aim of this study is to provide an economic assessment of the marginal value of ecosystem services due to environmental changes resulting form the restoration project of the Finnish River Pajakkajoki, adopting an approach combining revealed and stated estimate methods to improve the consistency of the evaluation (Whitehead et al., 1999).

Materials and methods The area involved in the evaluation of the ESS is the River Pajakkajoki, a water body classified by Finnish authority as a cultural landscape since it was an important route for tar and timber transport. The river, near the the city of Kuhmo (Kainuu region, Finland), is 12 km long and characterized by three main rapids: Pajakkakoski (470 meters long), Akonkoski (160 meters long) and Saarikoski (270 meters long) (figure 1).

Figure 1. Pajakkajoki river area and rapid location.

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The presence of stockings of trout, indigenous grayling and also European whitefish makes Pajakkajoki one of the most known fishing tourism sites of the region. For this reason, the rehabilitation project was mainly aimed to improve fishing conditions, particularly considering the natural spawning and the recreational use of the site, through several actions: restoration of the river bottom and banks to increase spawning and fry habitats; addition of shelter basins for adult fish; implementation of fishing rules to avoid high impact on fish stocks; improvement of accesses to the fishing habitats. Moreover, the rehabilitation works increased quality conditions of the area surrounding the river itself, improving existent walking paths, creating parking spaces, new routes and natural trails (also for disable people).

To estimate the potential benefits arising from the rehabilitation works, a first step was mapping the ESS of the considered area, understanding how they were affected by the rehabilitation project. Existent materials (eg. maps, plans, etc.) about the surroundings of Pajakkajoki river area, together with on-site surveys and data collection to be used by GIS software allowed to identified and locate existing ESS provided by the investigated area. The next step was selecting among the identified ESS those really affected by the rehabilitation project, assessing the change in marginal value provided by the Pajakkajoki site before versus after the rehabilitation project. In doing this, relationships between the multiple benefits form the rehabilitation works and the distinction between intermediate and final services to avoid the double counting were considered.

Moreover, since the evaluation of provisioning and supporting services, like water regulation and flood and erosion prevention, required a great amount of specific data unavailable at the time of conduction of this study, the analysis focused on the assessment of change in marginal value of cultural and recreational services.

This decision, even if restricts the analysis to some services, results in a more conservative approach since the final economic quantification should be considered as an underestimation of the actual ESS improvement due to the restoration project.

Recreational and cultural services are characterized by use value, usually quantified through revealed preference methods, and non-use value, usually quantified through stated preference methods. For this reason, in this study a combined approach considering both the methods was adopted. According to other scientific studies (e.g. Ghermandi et al., 2011), consumer surplus for recreational use value estimation was selected, considered the daily expenditures of the visitors of the area and referring them to a typical “recreational day”, defined as “a day spent for the recreational activities”.

A questionnaire was prepared according to the guidelines for contingent valuation surveys (Arrow et al., 1993; Pearce and Özdemiroglu., 2002; Bateman et al., 2008), containing open and closed-ended questions regarding the daily expenditures of individuals (revealed behavior indicator) as well as their willingness to pay to contribute to the maintenance of the rehabilitation actions (stated behavior). The questionnaire is subdivided into main four sections: • Section 1: to investigate if the respondent is familiar with the actual use of the area.

• Section 2: to collect information on the daily expenditure of visitors, on average, when participating to recreational activities in the Pajakkajoki area.

This section contains four subcategories of activity: recreational fishing, free outdoor activities (i.e. trail hiking, nature observation, berry and mushroom picking, etc.), non-free outdoor activities (hired equipment for canoeing,

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rapids swimming, etc.), cultural activities (Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival, visiting historical sites, etc.). For each subcategory information like frequency of visits over the past 12 months (in terms of times/year), daily expenditures for food, accommodation, fishing license fees, renting and extra expenses (€/person/day) were required.

• Section 3: to assess the awareness of the respondents of the rehabilitation project, the additional visits per year to the area as the consequence of the improved conditions and their stated willingness to pay to contribute in economic terms to the maintenance of the rehabilitation actions (€/person/year).

• Section 4: to collect information about the respondent (e.g. age, sex, origin, education, etc.).

Additional to the administration to a workshop organized in the framework of the project, the questionnaire was also delivered through emails, social networks and local newspaper by public operators and institutions to inform local and nonlocal visitors about the survey. We estimated that the total number of people reached was ca 900.

Current annual per capita expenditures were calculated combining data on individual expenditures per each recreational activity and the participation frequency declared by respondents. The marginal value change due to the ESS improvement (€/person/year) was calculated multiplying the obtained average daily expenditures per a typical “recreational day” by the declared number of additional recreational days.

The total WTP, indeed, was obtained for each respondent (€/person/day) adding the WTP for maintenance contribution to the additional WTP for increasing fishing licenses. Moreover, additional individual daily expenditures were added to the total WTP to quantify the overall marginal increase in recreational services.

Finally, to calculate the marginal value as total rather than per capita annual amount, some assumptions were made. Considering that Pajakkakoski rapid is the nearest to the Kuhmo city center, and considering also the proximity of this area to the place where the local Music Festival occurs, to scale up per capita local expenditures it was assumed that local people visiting the rapids were at least those who live within 2 kilometers of radius from such rapid (Vesterinen et al. 2010). Furthermore, to provide a more conservative estimation of the share of population actually visiting the area, the selected population was multiplied by the response rate to the questionnaire. Instead, to scale up per capita nonresident expenditures, information on tourist fluxes involved in fishing, cultural and nature recreation activities were adopted.

Results Replies to administrated questionnaire were 90 from online questionnaires and 29 from paper forms, resulting in a response rate of 13% highlighting the sensitivity of people visiting the Pajakkajoki area to the conditions of that place.

Data were processed to give results in terms of sample composition, daily and annual visitor expenditures and willingness to pay, as well as people perception of the rehabilitation project.

About 45% of the respondents were resident in Kuhmo, whereas 9% was from Kajaani and the remaining part from other Finnish cities. Most of them were men (70%), whereas age distribution was as follows: age 20-30, 13%; age 3040, 34%; age 40-50, 16%; age 50-60, 22%; age over 60, 15%. According to

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results shown on figure 2, most of the respondents participated to more than one activity suggested in the questionnaire, with free recreational activities the most popular.

Figure 2. Number of respondents participating to the four types of recreational activities in the project area.

Table 1 shows calculated daily and annual visitor’s expenditure according to each considered recreational activity category as well as to the average in a recreational day, with a further distinction between residents and non-residents expenditures. Since there is no scientific agreement about which kind of statistic is more suitable for this kind of studies (Haneys at al., 1992), results are reported both as mean and median, while standard deviation and median absolute deviation were used to represent the variability of data.

Tab. 1 Current expenditures of visitors. SD stands for Standard Deviation, MAD means Mean Absolute Deviation.

Annual expenditure €/person/year Recreational fishing Free outdoor activities Non-free outdoor activities

Mean (SD) Median (MAD) 314.8 (±468.3) 139.0 (±92.1) 154.4 (±399.6) 20.0 (±20.0) 48.6 (±36.5)

452.2 (±1960.9) Average in a recreational day 470.5 Resident visitors (±1038.5) 631.7 Non-resident visitors (±2473.5) 558.6 All visitors (±1951.7) Cultural activities

45.0 (±25.0) 20.0 (±20.0)

81.0 (±81.0) 130.0 (±108.0) 126.0 (±126.0)

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The statistical elaborations of the replies reveal that the majority of respondents (85%) stated their willingness to visit the area more often because of the improvements of the area, confirming that the flux of visitors will increase and consequently also the economic income due to recreational activities will increase. For each respondent, data on future additional recreational days they predict they would spend in the area (due to the benefits derived from the rehabilitation) were multiplied by current daily expenditures, providing the additional economic expenditures resulting from the project.

Tab. 2 Marginal value of the change in per capita annual expenditure and projections for resident and non-resident people. SD stands for Standard Deviation, MAD is Mean Absolute Deviation.

Additional recreational days Days/year Mean (SD) Resident visitors 9.2 (±12.1)

Median (MAD) 5.5 (±4.5)

Non-resident visitors

1.7 (±1.9)

1.0 (±1.0)

All visitors

5.1 (±9.1)

2.0 (±2.0)

Additional annual expenditures €/person/year Mean (SD) 131.1 (±349.5) 133.4 (±316.1) 132.4 (±330.2)

Median (MAD) 12.9 (±12.9) 39.0 (±39.0) 30.0 (±30.0)

Considering the willingness to pay (WTP), results highlight that 28% of the respondents was not willing to pay any amount of money because of the rehabilitation project, whereas 25% is willing to contribute but only in terms of voluntary work. The biggest share (47%) states its willingness to make an annual monetary donation. Table 3 contains total resulting WTP according to resident and non-resident people.

Tab. 3 Willingness to pay to contribute to the maintenance of the river rehabilitation measures. SD stands for Standard Deviation, MAD means Mean Absolute Deviation.

Total WTP €/person/year Mean (SD) Resident visitors Non-resident visitors All visitors

12.4 (±15.2) 14.7 (±23.9) 13.7 (±20.6)

Median (MAD) 10.0 (±10.0) 10.0 (±10.0) 10.0 (±10.0)

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The marginal increase in the annual visitor expenditures was added to visitors WTP, obtaining the final marginal increase in recreational ESS value (€/person/year) due to the rehabilitation project. To scale up the per capita value to the total value, according to the assumption made, we multiplied such marginal increase by the current number of visitors to the area, corresponding to 367 local visitors (2823 inhabitants multiplied by the response rate of 13%) and to 118 non-resident visitors (88 non-resident anglers registered by fishing license plus an estimate of 30 tourists visiting the area during the annual local Music Festival. Table 4 contains results of the total increase in the marginal value of the recreational services of the Pajakkajoki area.

Table 4. Increase in marginal value for recreational ecosystem services in the Pajakkajoki area. SD stands for Standard Deviation, MAD for Mean Absolute Deviation.

Change in marginal value of recreational ESS €/person/year Mean (SD)

Median (MAD)

Resident visitors

141.4 (±351.6)

24.6 (±24.6)

Non-resident visitors

147.4 (±332.9)

52.4 (±49.6)

All visitors

144.7 (±340.0)

40.0 (±40.0)

Increase in total annual value (after multiplying residents by the response rate) € Mean Median (SD) (MAD) 51893.8 9028.2 (±129037. (±9028.2) 2) 17393.2 6183.2 (±39282.2) (±5852.8) 70179.5 19400.0 (±164900. (±19400.0) 0)

Discussion and conclusions The aim of this study was to evaluate how the restoration project of a Finnish river area may affect the ESS provided by the area itself. Not all ESS improved by the restoration project could be assessed due to lack of quantitative data on their change after the restoration, making thus our estimate of the increase in ESS value conservative. An estimate of the value of selected recreational and cultural services was performed adopting a questionnaire based valuation methodology, adopting a combined approach considering information on WTP together with individual expenditures due to recreational activities.

The expected increase in the recreational use of the area was confirmed by the stated projections provided by the majority of respondents (85%) on their willingness to have more visits because of the improved site conditions due to the restoration works. The increase in marginal value of recreational services results in 9028.2-51893.8 €/year for locals and 6183.2-17393.2 €/year for nonlocals, with average values equal to 19400-70179.5 €/year when considering all visitors together (the lower and higher values being median and mean respectively). Considering that rehabilitation costs are 194650 € according to the

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project application, the total economic value of the assessed recreational ESS (which was estimated conservatively) could offset such cost in a time range between 3 and 10 years, fully justifying the choice of carrying out a river restoration in Pajakkajoki.

An interesting point to discuss is that median and mean show a small difference when assessing WTP values (10 and 13,7 €/person/year respectively), whereas they show a large difference when considering expenditures values. This is probably because of the question format, where WTP questions were closedend while daily expenditures ones where both open and closed-ended, allowing a larger range of response values.

Moreover, considering the questionnaire, a well known issue is the format of the answers that may affect the results (Arrow et al., 1993). An example is represented by the WTP values indicated by the respondents, concentrated around the option representing the lowest value among those suggested in the question. This might indicate a conditioning of individual replies, and so that WTP values could have been different in case the questions were expressed as openended or the lowest options were higher in value.

Even if the analysis performed in this study led to an underestimation of the actual value of environmental improvements, resulting anyway in a more conservative approach allowing to avoid errors that can compromise the consistency of results, the outputs of the valuation performed should contribute to increase the awareness of local policy makers, stakeholders and local community about the importance of natural resources available in their land, promoting a participated and sustainable management of natural resources.

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Turner R. K., Paavola J., Cooper P., Farber S., Jessamy V., Georgiou S., 2003, Valuing nature: lessons learned and future research directions, Ecological Economics 46, pp. 493-510.

Vesterinen J., Pouta E., Huhtala A., Neuvonen M., 2010, Impacts of changes in water quality on recreation behaviour and benefits in Finland, Journal of Environmental Management 91, pp. 984–994.

Whitehead J.C., Haab T.C., Huang J.C., 1999, Measuring recreation benefits of quality improvements with revealed and stated behavior data, Resource and Energy Economics 22, pp. 339–354.

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Ecosystem services of Urban rivers and blue infrastructure – a brief introduction Jiří Schneider, Michaela Venzlů Department of Environmentalistic and Natural Resources, Faculty of Regional Development and International Studies, Mendel University in Brno. Tř. Generála Píky 2005/7, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic e-mail: jiri.schneider@mendelu.cz Department of Landscape management, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 3, Brno, 613 00, Czech Republic. e-mail: venzlu.m@seznam.cz More than 50% of the worlds population live in cities and urban areas. All citizens of a cities depend on the same natural capital like fresh air, drinking water, soil and ecosystems (Haase, 2015). Although cities are to a large extent dependant on ecosystem services often provided in distant ecosystems (sources of drinking water, flood protection, etc.), green and blue infrastructure play an important role in water management and affecting of water regime. Growing proof areas reduce the possibility of water to soak into soil, increase the amount of surface outflow and thus increase the risk of floods. A more detailed view in urban ecosystems and provided services are presented by Gómez-Baggethun et al.

(2013). Apart from own components of green and blue infrastructure they add examples of indicators which may be used for their evaluation. Urban waters, be it coastal areas, rivers, lakes, wetlands or artificial channels, receive input of large amounts of pollution from a variety of sources, including industrial discharges, traffic such as cars and trucks, residential/commercial wastewater, trash and polluted storm water runoff from urban surfaces (Haase, 2015). Bluegreen infrastructure improves air temperature and humidity, reduces pollution, stimulates the human immune system, provides favourable conditions for outdoor activities, and consequently, helps maintain proper body weight, good physical endurance and optimum mental health (Kupryś-Lipińska et al., 2014).

Urban water management is currently understood as a socio-technical problem, including both technologies and engineering interventions as well as socioeconomic dimensions and contexts vis a vis both end users and institutions (Bouziotas et al., 2015).

In relation to urban space of settlements, care for landscape and a role of river systems, the evaluation can be used also within tools of land-use planning.

The first possibility is to place highly functional elements within the urban area (i.e. localisation within flood protection overlapped to support biodiversity and recreation). The second possibility is to realise the changes in settlement development via quantification of changes in providing the ecosystem services and use them as indicators of sustainable development of a city. These possible applications include various views on management and use of river areas in cities - urbanism, transport systems, water transportation, economics, biodiversity and ecology, flood protection, recreation, corridors, sewerage water management, drinking water, energetics, health, fishing, etc. Particularly in developing cities, where the pace of urbanization rapidly reduces the availability of natural areas,

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designing nature for hydraulic performance plays a vital and multifunctional role that actively contributes to the quality of urban life (Bacchin et al., 2014).

As urbanization expands city planners and policymakers need to consider how ecological resources can be strategically developed and managed sustainably to meet the needs of urban populations. Theecosystem services (ES) approach provides a useful framework for assessing the status quo, setting goals,identifying benchmarks and prioritizing approaches to improving ecological functioning for urbansustainability and resilience (McPhaerson et al.,2013).

Water-sensitive urban design (WSUD) is a concept that is gaining support as a means to manage urban water systems in an integrated way through the better positioning of the topic of water in urban planning and design processes (Ashley et al., 2013). Urban Water Optioneering Tool (UWOT) is a bottom-up urban water model that simulates the generation, aggregation and routing of demand signals (potable water demand, runoff discharge demand, and wastewater discharge demand) (Rozos, Makropoulos, 2013, 2015).

Urban ES frameworks have great potential to serve as a bridge between science and policy in the context of urban planning and environmental governance (Kremer et al., 2016).

Functional mechanisms, processes, functions and effects were essentially investigated and reported before expanding awareness of ecosystem services and systemization of blue-green infrastructure. New benefit of these concepts is a common understanding of environmental, social and economic ties of the issue.

This brings unification of terminology and methodological approaches that have common general objectives and outputs - provide clear and understandable information about the importance of ecosystems in all their variability for man and his prosperity and bare preservation of the human race. Concept defines what changes in ecosystem services mankind causes to its management, use and exploitation of natural resources and how it is reflected in the quality of his life. But above all –valuation of ecosystem services brings indisputable arguments in political debate and decision-making process of how human societies at different levels (from the global to the local and individual) to deal with the environment.

Acknowledgement The paper was done within the project no. EHP-CZ02-OV-1-032-2015 - Raising awareness and publicity of the importance of forest functions in the landscape and near-natural watercourses in urban areas as a part of basin ecosystem services. The Project is supported by grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

References Ashley, R., Lundy, L., Ward, S., Shaffer, P., Walker, L., Morgan, C., Saul, A., Wong, T., Moore, S. (2013). Water-sensitive urban design: opportunities for the UK. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers, 166(2), 65.

Bacchin, T. K., Ashley, R., Sijmons, D., Zevenbergen, C., & Van Timmeren, A. (2014). Green-blue multifunctional infrastructure: an urban landscape system design new approach. In 13th International Conference on Urban Drainage, Sarawak, Malaysia (pp. 7-12).

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Bolund, P., & Hunhammar, S. (1999). Ecosystem services in urban areas.

Ecological economics, 29(2), 293-301.

Bouziotas, D., Rozos, E., & Makropoulos, C. (2015). Water and the city: exploring links between urban growth and water demand management.

Journal of Hydroinformatics, 17(2), 176-192.

Gómez-Baggethun, E., Gren, Å., Barton, D. N., Langemeyer, J., McPhearson, T., O’Farrell, P., ... & Kremer, P. (2013). Urban ecosystem services. In Urbanization, biodiversity and ecosystem services: Challenges and opportunities (pp. 175-251). Springer Netherlands.

Haase, D. (2015). Reflections about blue ecosystem services in cities.

Sustainability of Water Quality and Ecology, 5, 77-83.

Kabisch, N., Frantzeskaki, N., Pauleit, S., Naumann, S., Davis, M., Artmann, M., ... & Zaunberger, K. (2016). Nature-based solutions to climate change mitigation and adaptation in urban areas: perspectives on indicators, knowledge gaps, barriers, and opportunities for action. Ecology and Society, 21(2).

Kanniah, K. D., & Kang, C. S. (2014). Exploring the role of green and blue infrastructure in reducing temperature in Iskandar Malaysia using remote sensing approach. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (Vol. 18, No. 1, p. 012156). IOP Publishing.

Kremer, P., Hamstead, Z., Haase, D., McPhearson, T., Frantzeskaki, N., Andersson, E., ... & Baró, F. (2016). Key insights for the future of urban ecosystem services research. Ecology and Society, 21(2).

Kupryś-Lipińska, I., Kuna, P., & Wagner, I. (2014). Water in the urban space and the health of residents. Water in the City, Sendzimir Foundation, Kraków, 4755.

Lampartová, I.,& Blažková, K. (2016). Evaluation of the Blanice watercourse in relation to the development of recreation in the Vlašim model region. In Public recreation and landscape protection - with man hand in hand!. Brno: Mendel University in Brno. Brno. s. 53--58. ISBN 978-80-7509-408-7.

Lampartová, I., & Schneider, J. (2014). Possibilities of Evaluation of the Recreational Potential of Close to Nature Watercourses. Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, 62(4), 799-809.

Maes, J., et al. (2016). Mapping and assessment of ecosystems and their services. Urban ecosystems. Publication Office of The European Union, Luxembourg McPhearson, T., Kremer, P., & Hamstead, Z. A. (2013). Mapping ecosystem services in New York City: Applying a social–ecological approach in urban vacant land. Ecosystem Services, 5, 11-26.

Philipp, C. H., Wannous, J., & Pakzad, P. (2015). Thermal impact of blue infrastructure: Casestudy Cheonggyecheon, Seoul (Korea). In Proc. ICUC99th International Conference on Urban Climate jointly with 12th Symposium on the Urban Environment, paper CCMA5-5-8531677.

Rozos, E., & Makropoulos, C. (2013). Source to tap urban water cycle modelling.

Environmental Modelling & Software, 41, 139-150.

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TEEB – The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (2011). TEEB Manual for Cities: Ecosystem Services in Urban Management. www.teebweb.org Thorne, C. R., Lawson, E. C., Ozawa, C., Hamlin, S. L., & Smith, L. A. (2015).

Overcoming uncertainty and barriers to adoption of Blue‐Green Infrastructure for urban flood risk management. Journal of Flood Risk Management.

Vollmer, D., & Grêt-Regamey, A. (2013). Rivers as municipal infrastructure: Demand for environmental services in informal settlements along an Indonesian river. Global environmental change, 23(6), 1542-1555.

Wagner, I., Krauze, K., & Zalewski, M. (2013). Blue aspects of green infrastructure. Sustainable Development Applications, 4, 145-155.

Wagner, I., Januchta-Szostak, A., & Waack-Zając, A (2014). Tools for strategic planning and management of urban water. Sustainable Development Applications 5, 17-29 Žuvela-Aloise, M., Koch, R., Buchholz, S., & Früh, B. (2016). Modelling the potential of green and blue infrastructure to reduce urban heat load in the city of Vienna. Climatic Change, 135(3-4), 425-438.

Presentations from THE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES OF URBAN RIVERS International Scientific Conference 19 - 22 APRIL, 2016 / CHATEAU KŘTINY (CZE)

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List of presentations: • • •

• • • • • • •

• • • • • • •

The Centrality of Felt Voice and Ownership to Developing Sustainable ‘Sustainable Drainage Systems’ / Everett G. Indicators for Cultural Ecosystem Services in urban contexts: a critical review for urban planning / Inostroza L. The relationship between the morphological status of the urban stream and the floodplain biodiversity – case study of the Leskava Stream in Brno / Jakubínský J. The public perception of urban river spaces in the Czech Republic / Konečný O. How do perceive the residents around medium or large rivers their countryside? / Kyselka I. „Evaluation of recreational potentional of near-nature riverbeds in urban area in the Czech Republic“ / Lampartová I. Ecosystem Services of the Thaya river floodplain to the town of Breclav / Sobotková B., Láznička V. Katowice experience of increasing general public awareness of river valleys’ significance as public space / Markowska M. Human Activities and Biodiversity Protection - Case study of the Bata Canal / Minďas J. Rain Water Harvesting as an Ecosystem -Friendly Way of Reducing of Costs of Water Supply and of River Pollution in the Cities / Moravec J. Mendel University in Brno / Pavlík I. Riverbeds in urban environment and risks of water-borne diseases spreading in developing and developed countries / Pavlík I. The Economical aspects of the urban river spaces / Miškolci S., Redlichová R. About project RaFa / Schneider J. Ecosystem services of water catchments / Schneider J., Venzlů M. Economic assessment of recreational ecosystem services affected by the rehabilitation project of a Finnish river / Simonetto M. The Olza river in the urban cross-border landscape of Karvina, Cieszyn and Třinec. Provision and demand of urban ecosystem services / Spyra M.

Title

Proceedings from THE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES OF URBAN RIVERS

Name of authors

Composite authors

Publisher

Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic

Published editon

First edition, 2016

Quantity

100 pcs

Number of pages

72

Print

ASTRON studio CZ, a.s., Veselská 699, 199 00 Praha 9

ISBN

978-80-7509-465-0