The deterioration of the natural environment in the cities and the awareness of multi-faceted benefits from 'green' urban investments led to a new view of the areas covered by vegetation, especially wooded spaces in urban areas. They are now more and more seen as 'one of the main catalysts of urban regeneration, adhesives, which can tie together fragmented elements of modern growth processes into strong structures that can act as stimulators of investments, which in turn will encourage to internal development' (Simson, 2005). This assessment is the result of joint findings of scientists from 21 European countries and was made after analysing many examples of urban development in different countries and successful innovative urban investments in which green areas were the priority issues stimulating the growth. It was stated that the implementation of investments in this light can serve as an inspiration to revive the activity and free social initiatives, particularly in the areas of economic stagnation. New understanding of the role of the natural environment is a challenge for landscape architects and specialists in all related professions (arborists, gardeners, foresters, etc.) and for spatial planners to prepare relevant information materials aimed at both professionals and citizens. It is also necessary to develop appropriate legal instruments and organisational and technical tools in the form of guidebooks and standards based on new knowledge for the creation of conditions for the implementation of a new method of shaping the cities according to the vision of the 21st century in practice. These are urgent actions requiring consolidation of the whole professional environment and close cooperation with authorities and the local community. This is extremely important because, despite the more broadly understood importance of green spaces in the spatial structure of cities, economic categories enclosed within the narrow limits of profits and losses are still predominate in today's thinking of decision-makers. This means that the budget funds for the development and maintenance of green areas are cut in the first place, treated not as a value, but only as a burden and a field generating expenses from a limited pool of municipal budgets. In the face of this situation the Institute of Spatial Management and Housing (IGPiM) have undertaken a number of studies in order to identify the factors stimulating and limiting the development of urban green areas by using the SWOT analysis (Sitarski et al., 2011). Multi-disciplinary studies on the impacts of green areas on the condition of the urban environment, including the local climate and the change of elements of this environment in areas of strong pressure of communication nuisance, were also conducted (Szczepanowska (ed.) et al., 1984). A method was developed for determining the value of trees on the background of vast studies of the methodology of valuating urban wooded areas in many European and non-European countries. Materials for improving the investment activity, including the protection and development of the natural environment, in line with the New Charter of Athens are also being prepared. This paper aims at implementing the priorities set out here for practical use. These issues will be presented in the second part of the article discussing the problems of the new presentation of green areas in the spatial structure of urban areas.
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