Comfortable Urban Environment Programs in Russia: Prospects for Reducing Environmental Damage with the Development of Citizen Feedback IT Systems

Contemporary programs aimed at enhancing urban environment in Russia have seen substantial development, with significant budgetary allocations – including federal funds – directed toward these initiatives. Numerous projects have been implemented, accompanied by evolving regulatory frameworks and the adoption of legal norms. However, both in regulation and execution, insufficient attention has been given to ecosystem preservation, resulting into considerable environmental harm, and, in some cases, public opposition to urban improvement projects. This article examines challenges in two important domains – the maintenance of urban areas and the enhancement of large natural spaces, including urban forests and rivers. For major ecosystems, particularly forests, the prevailing emphasis on intensive redevelopment should shift toward a preserving-oriented approach, with ecological protection being the key priority. Weakening of recent regulatory necessitates a renewed discussion on legal guarantees for these ecosystems, which should permit construction only under exceptional circumstances. In addition to that, heightened protections against the pollution and clogging of urban water bodies to ensure the reasonable use of water resources must be enforced. Regarding urban area maintenance, the following regulatory improvements are proposed: 1) stricter standards for de-icing agents should be adopted with more environmentally friendly methods being favored, especially in parks and public squares; 2) excessive foliage removal degrades soil and harms trees; collection should be restricted only to roadsides, excluding natural zones; 3) the trend toward parterre lawns (a term imported from American and British discourses) has reduced biodiversity, harmed insects and birds, and simplified urban landscapes. Their use should be limited to select areas, with a broader emphasis on preserving urban meadows and floral diversity; 4) reducing non-essential pruning would alleviate ecological disruption. In general, to minimize environmental damage, broader institutional reforms are needed, e.g. addressing soft budget constraints, amplifying input of local community along with expert recommendations of environmentalists, and strengthening municipal democracy. Enhanced digital platforms for citizens’ feedback on environmental and urban improvement issues would play a pivotal role in advancing these goals.

Keywords: comfortable urban environment; urban improvement; local democracy; ecology; ecosystems; urban forests; urban rivers; IT systems