ИСТИНА

Advances in technology, shifting consumption patterns, the continued economic orientation toward exploiting and exporting natural resources along with the growth in social inequality and depopulation in a large portion of the Northern Territory are characteristic features of today’s Russia. Along with extreme environmental loads (e.g. acid rain, smog, heavy metal pollution, wide areas of forest devastation and soil degradation in more than 100 cities), this has led to new risks with severe consequences for both human health (increased mortality and morbidity) and the overall sustainable development of the northern cities and regions. Although worldwide, industrialized cities have been attempting to integrate sustainable ecological, social, and economic strategies into all fields of urban development to counteract ecosystem and health risks, the situation in Russia is still far from satisfied. However, some efforts and successes resulting from strong co-operation between local, regional and international experts dealing with the strategy of green infrastructure development and implementation can be observed here. Exemplified on the different groups of northern Russian cities, it illustrates bed and good practice as well as analyses potentials and challenges that affect current green infrastructure development. Historically, in Soviet Russia, green in the city was part of urban planning but more as a proclamation and mostly implemented in a top-down-manner. During post socialist transformation, economic restructuring dwarfed the debate on urban nature and greening. Within last years, the situation has changed: Urban nature for residential quality and well-being has become more relevant for people, their perceptions and daily practices. The paper analyses the development and main characteristics of urban green spaces in different northern cities Russia. It discusses the importance of urban nature for human well-being, housing and its contribution to social cohesion and local identity.