Paper Short Abstract:

Based on my ongoing research following the process of creating a new city park, I examine how different ecologies coexist in urban areas. In the face of the climate crisis, the effects of which are increasingly felt in cities, many metropolises are incorporating green infrastructure into urban strategies. Previous urban wastelands are beginning to be transformed into new urban green areas. The role of non-human actors, especially plants in the city, is being noticed. They are starting to be used as "allies" in the fight against climate change. However, the question for me is - is this a continuation of the anthropocentric use of plants as a resource or is it an opportunity for new human-non-human relations in urban areas?

Paper Abstract:

Drawing on my ongoing research on the process of creating a new city park in Gdańsk (Poland) this presentation explores the intersection of different ecologies in urban space. I am interested in something that I call “green encounters” – encounters between various human and non-human beings that were initiated in connection with the creation of the park. There are frictions, negotiations, and collapses that show the conflicting interests of different actors. The park is being created on former agricultural land that is currently being built up as a result of suburbanization. The traces of different uses of land can be seen in the materiality of the landscape (i.e. presence of specific plants). In the project of the park, some of the green areas are planned to be left intact, some are intended as recreation zones, and a space for “natural” succession is also designed. The park will be constantly in the process of being created, its appearance is to depend on the natural succession process taking place in it. I examine existing and emerging human-plant relations, examining their nature and conditions. The fact of climate crisis indicates new visions of future green cities. Urbanists have started using Nature Based Solutions (NBS) and blue-green infrastructure. Non-human actors, especially plants in the city, are being noticed. They have started to be used as "allies" in the fight against climate change. Is it a chance for new more-than-human relations in cities or continuation of anthropocentric use of plants as a resource?