Apr 16, 2025
IHI students highlight the importance of Zittau's green spaces
Nana Boadu presenting the results of the project
Under the heading “Urban ESSence”, Nana Boadu from Ghana and Eseza Kasowole from Uganda, who are studying Ecosystem Services at IHI Zittau, have selected Zittau's urban green spaces in collaboration with the Zittau urban development company, practically walked through them and then mapped them and recorded the ecosystem services they provide: For example, the small Amaliengarten with its high plant diversity and density offers completely different ecosystem services than the green belt of Weinauallee, which connects the city center with Weinau Park, or the banks of the Mandau. While biodiversity is the main benefit of some green spaces, elsewhere the focus is on urban air circulation and cooling or cultural services such as recreation, opportunities for socializing, etc.
The project team: (from left to right) Dr. André Tiemann (Chair of Ecosystem Services), Eseza Kasowole, Nana Boadu (students on the Ecosystem Services Master's degree course), Vera Braun (Chair of Business Administration, in particular Environmental Management), Moritz Dieterich (Zittau Urban Development Corporation)
This resulted in six ecosystem-based “individual portraits”, which are visualized on panels on site. In addition, a flyer was designed which, alongside a technical background to the ecosystem services concept, includes a tour of Zittau along the green spaces examined. The aim is to raise awareness among Zittau residents of the importance of their urban green spaces and make an initially abstract-sounding scientific concept tangible and understandable.