Usefulness of Urban and Suburban Forests in Białystok for Recreation

Robert Czubaszek

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8427-7191

Agnieszka Wysocka-Czubaszek

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1334-3809

Igor Barnik

Abstract

This study evaluated the usefulness of Bialystok urban and suburban forests for recreation, supplemented by an assessment of their recreational capacity. The largest area in analyzed area is covered by forests with very high suitability for recreation. These units occur mainly in large forest areas located to the north-east of Białystok and in the northern part of the city. Good usefulness of studied forests for recreation is mainly due to the quite old trees growing in habitats of fresh forest and fresh mixed forest. The only forests unsuitable for recreation are small units of a very young fresh coniferous forest and forest units overgrown with alder forests. Units assessed as well and very well-suited for recreation the capacity indicator of recreation ranges from 3 to 6 personalhours/ha/d. Units with medium usefulness are characterized by a recreational capacity of 2 personalhours/ha/d. In forests assessed as little useful and unsuitable for tourism the capacity index is the lowest.

Keywords:

urban forests, suburban forests, Bialystok, recreational usefulness, recreational capacity