From Urban Memory to (Un)Sustainable Vegetation Concept

From prehistoric settlements to modern cities, vegetation has played a central role in human environments as a source of food and medicine, an element of religious rituals, a natural calendar, a protective barrier, a medium for artistic expression, and a source of materials for tools and weapons. Today, it continues to sustain life by addressing ecological challenges and promoting mental well-being by reconnecting humans with nature, which is progressively disappearing in urban landscapes.

Novi Sad, a city in northern Serbia, has a rich urban history, particularly from the Austro-Hungarian era and the reign of Empress Maria Theresa, who promoted public health through well-maintained outdoor spaces featuring lawns, flowers, and rows of fruit trees in front of homes. Nearly three centuries later, the city is heavily built up, with its green legacy surviving only in fragments. Family houses have been replaced by multi-story buildings, greenery by concrete, and urban vegetation has significantly declined, affecting residents’ quality of life.

This study examines urban greenery during the urban transformation of the district Podbara in Novi Sad. It questions whether vegetation still exists or the focus has been shifted to minimal coverage. The study aims to assess environmental quality in response to the effects of urban transformation. The methodology included vegetation inventory, tree age assessment, and biodiversity indicators. The applied methodology revealed a considerable loss of vegetation resulting from urbanization. Nevertheless, the persistence of diverse species remnants yielded a satisfactory biodiversity index that does not fully reflect the on-site conditions.

Although the biodiversity index shows a satisfactory environment, vegetation suffers from construction dust, negligence, or removal for building. Nature persists—but can humans thrive without it? Restoring green heritage and reaffirming the human–nature connection is not merely desirable, but imperative in the face of intensive urbanization and increasingly challenging urban living conditions.