Nature-Based Solutions in Sustainable Cities: Trace Metal Accumulation in Urban Forests of Vienna (Austria) and Krakow (Poland)

Mateusz Jakubiak, Ewa Panek, Krzysztof Urbański, Sónia Silva Victória, Stanisław Lach, Kamil Maciuk () and Marek Kopacz
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Mateusz Jakubiak: Faculty of Geo-Data Science, Geodesy, and Environmental Engineering, AGH University of Krakow, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Ewa Panek: Faculty of Geo-Data Science, Geodesy, and Environmental Engineering, AGH University of Krakow, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Krzysztof Urbański: Faculty of Geo-Data Science, Geodesy, and Environmental Engineering, AGH University of Krakow, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Sónia Silva Victória: Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Cape Verde, Praia 7943-010, Cape Verde
Stanisław Lach: Faculty of Geo-Data Science, Geodesy, and Environmental Engineering, AGH University of Krakow, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Kamil Maciuk: Faculty of Geo-Data Science, Geodesy, and Environmental Engineering, AGH University of Krakow, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Marek Kopacz: Faculty of Geo-Data Science, Geodesy, and Environmental Engineering, AGH University of Krakow, 30-059 Krakow, Poland

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-17

Abstract: Forests are considered one of the most valuable natural areas in metropolitan region landscapes. Considering the sensitivity and ecosystem services provided by trees, the definition of urban forest ecosystems is nowadays based on a comprehensive understanding of the entire urban ecosystem. The effective capturing of particulate matter is one of the ecosystem services provided by urban forests. These ecosystems function as efficient biological filters. Plants accumulate pollutants passively via their leaves. Therefore, another ecosystem service provided by city forests could be the use of tree organs as bioindicators of pollution. This paper aims to estimate differences in trace metal pollution between the wooded urban areas of Vienna and Krakow using leaves of evergreen and deciduous trees as biomonitors. An additional objective of the research was to assess the ability of the applied tree species to act as biomonitors. Plant samples of five species—Norway spruce, Scots pine, European larch, common white birch, and common beech—were collected within both areas, in seven locations: four in the “Wienerwald” Vienna forest (Austria) and three in the “Las Wolski” forest in Krakow (Poland). Concentrations of Cr, Cu, Cd, Pb, and Zn in plant material were determined. Biomonitoring studies with deciduous and coniferous tree leaves showed statistically higher heavy metal contamination in the “Las Wolski” forest compared to the “Wienerwald” forest. Based on the conducted analyses and the literature study, it can be concluded that among the analyzed tree species, only two: European beech and common white birch can be considered potential indicators in environmental studies. These species appear to be suitable bioindicators, as both are widespread in urban woodlands of Central Europe and have shown the highest accumulation levels of trace metals.

Keywords: trace metals; tree leaves; urban environment; Wienerwald; Las Wolski (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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