Challenges and Prospects of Urban allotments in Latvia and Portugal：（挑战和前景的城市分配在拉脱维亚和葡萄牙）.pdfVIP

ADVANCES in URBAN REHABILITATION and SUSTAINABILITY Challenges and Prospects of Urban allotments in Latvia and Portugal ILZE JANKOVSKA Forest Faculty, Latvia University of Agriculture Akademijas iela 11, Jelgava LATVIA jankovskailze@inbox.lv THOMAS PANAGOPOULOS Research Centre for Spatial and Organizational Dynamics (CIEO), University of Algarve, Faro PORTUGAL e-mail: tpanago@ualg.pt Abstract: - There is worldwide trend that rural life to become urban life in green scenery. Many cities promote city farms that form a bridge between the city and its bioregion. Urban allotments consist of land divided into a series of small parcels which are used by individuals and families as a place to grow flowers, or food. With regard to the areas, we consider urban open spaces, inner courtyard plots and any small cultivated strips located within city boundaries. Contribution to urban habitants fresh food needs, urban landscape and environmental sustainability are the main benefits. Adverse air, water, and soil pollution have threatened the viability of agriculture in the urban area. Results from a research in Riga, Latvia and Portugal permit us to argue that urban agriculture offers economic, social and environmental benefits. Moreover, urban planners have been integrating urban food