Dr Edyta Łaszkiewicz from the Department of Social and Ecological Systems Analysis of the University of Lodz (UŁ), together with scientists from the Warsaw University of Life Sciences, compared the ecological benefits of wastelands and city parks. 

The researchers wanted to answer the question of whether informal green areas (selected wastelands) and formal green areas (selected city parks and squares) differ in terms of their ecosystem services. Detailed environmental measurements were carried out for 75 green areas located in Warsaw. The scientists examined amounts of collected water, carbon dioxide absorption, biodiversity, temperature reduction and conducted a questionnaire study to assess the attractiveness of a given area by the inhabitants.

The obtained results indicate that there is no statistically significant difference between parks and squares and wastelands for the majority of the examined parameters. The differences arise in the case of carbon sequestration and these differences are in favor of wastelands.