Urban ecology concept of spatial development in Russia: implementation perspectives

Abstract

The article considers several relevant questions: will the period of population concentration in large cities and metropolises, which are the main resource - energy consumers and sources of environmental degradation, eventually come to end? What should the new cities be like and what should be done with the old ones which were built on the basis of the consumption growth ideology and unregulated spatial expansion? Is there any way for existing cities to evolve into new forms? The urban ecology concept is presented in regard to Russia, and its implementation perspectives under the current crisis conditions are discussed.

Untitled

“…There are also descriptions of the concept of sustainable development of a small city, in which a model based on a minor intervention in its structure but capable of reviving the uniqueness and viability of a small city, is accepted for consideration (Vavulin and Malaya, 2020). Vaytens and Shubenkov (2020) considered the problems of modern development of urbanized territories in Russia and proposed an urban ecology concept of development, which determines the opportunity of creating forms of urban structure that ensures balanced ecological exchanges of cities and settlements with nature. However, its implementation is hindered by the disinterest of the country's government at all levels, the almost complete absence of ecological culture in the population, and overall level of the economic development of the country.…”