ENVIRONMENTAL RISK ASSESSMENT FOR THE URBAN GREEN AREAS
The most part of the world’s population is the urban residents. In this regard, green areas carry a tremendous amount of ecosystem functions and experience the extraordinary level of anthropogenic load. To assess the status and development of degradation processes we identified the environmental risks of urban green areas of general and special purpose and restricted use. According to the results of the field surveys we compiled a list of 19 basic and individual risks, subdivided into 8 groups: the loss of species diversity, simplification of the vertical structure, horizontal structure simplification, diversity replacing, causing of harm, illnesses, loss of decorative value, destruction. The loss of the ability of green area to perform its ecosystem functions was considered as the main risk. On the basis of the calculated significance of risks we noted the most dangerous risks: destruction of green areas, trees and shrubs; the loss of species diversity and thinning. The risks of the group of causing of harm are of no great concern. The share of the significance of risks for the objects is a little more than a half, reaching only0.65. 6 characters for the risk classification are offered: according to the area of distribution, exposure duration, immensity, severity, and others. None of risks is characterized by the maximum indicators. However, 11 of 19 risks can be considered as a threat to the existence of a green area. The relevance of the article is the need to identify and monitor the risk situations for the urban green areas for the monitoring purposes and regulatory interventions of the city authorities. The evaluation allows us to determine the green areas exposed to risks.