EN
The article presents negative changes of natural environment in cities as well as the attempts aimed at preventing such negative changes by adopting relevant legislation like The European Landscape Convention and, in particular, The New Charter of Athens (2003). This provisions show directions for the development of municipal environment aimed at achieving, by integrated spatial planning and mutually coordinated executive and exploitation actions, sustainable and permanent development of the areas inhabited by about 75% of European society. In order to reach the said objective, representation and participation of the public in the matters concerning city development and quality of this future natural environment are required. It is also important to promote innovative enterprises in the scope of new grasp of green spaces: urban forestry - a stimulator of investment, binding separated city areas into strong structures of regeneration of nature. To visualize the new direction ofspatial planning, the examples were presented of pioneer urban investments in various EU countries, in which development potential of green spaces, particularly wooded ones, was understood as an integral and priority part of urban development of the 21st century. The discussed examples of multiple, innovative projects concern renovation of existing structures, development of new urban settlements as well as revitalization of degraded post-industrial areas. To visualize the role of wooded green spaces in cities, examples of benefits for the society resulting from the presence of such space and results of tests of economic effectiveness of investing in wooded city spaces were provided. The second part of the article contains the analysis of factors stimulating and limiting the development of green spaces following the SWOT analysis as well as the rules of integrated actions for the purpose of achieving ecological, social and economic success in the scope of rebuilding urban structures using the potential of wooded green spaces which function as catalysts of development of a modern city.