The Importance of Undiscovered Green Islands in Urban Areas: The Example of Central-Eastern European Cemeteries (Berlin and Warsaw) in the Opinions of City Dwellers

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This research about  "The Role of Unused Urban Green Spaces in the Era of Climate Change and the Needs of City Dwellers" represents highly relevant research, especially given the growing impact of climate change and the intensification of heat waves. The urgent need for accessible and functional green spaces in urban environments makes this study a valuable contribution to rethinking the use of currently underutilized areas.

However, some improvements are proposed that could enrich the study. First, it would be advisable to better contextualize the spaces analyzed: beyond the plans, including images of the cemeteries would allow for an appreciation of their material and plant characteristics, offering a more complete understanding of their potential as green infrastructure. Furthermore, an introduction addressing future environmental conditions is missing. Will these be compatible with the survival of existing vegetation? Incorporating this prospective approach would strengthen the analysis in terms of resilience and adaptation to climate change.
Furthermore, it would have been interesting to include a general map of the city showing the location of these cemeteries, which would facilitate understanding their relationship to the urban fabric, accessibility, and possible integration into the existing green infrastructure.

*Include city maps with the location of cemeteries.
*Indicate the consequences of climate change in both cities studied.
*Include photographs of the study cemeteries.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Comments 1:

This research about "The Role of Unused Urban Green Spaces in the Era of Climate Change and the Needs of City Dwellers" represents highly relevant research, especially given the growing impact of climate change and the intensification of heat waves. The urgent need for accessible and functional green spaces in urban environments makes this study a valuable contribution to rethinking the use of currently underutilized areas.

Response 1: Thank you very much for your detailed review of our article and for your valuable comments and observations.

 

Comments 2:

However, some improvements are proposed that could enrich the study. First, it would be advisable to better contextualize the spaces analyzed: beyond the plans, including images of the cemeteries would allow for an appreciation of their material and plant characteristics, offering a more complete understanding of their potential as green infrastructure. Furthermore, an introduction addressing future environmental conditions is missing. Will these be compatible with the survival of existing vegetation? Incorporating this prospective approach would strengthen the analysis in terms of resilience and adaptation to climate change.

Furthermore, it would have been interesting to include a general map of the city showing the location of these cemeteries, which would facilitate understanding their relationship to the urban fabric, accessibility, and possible integration into the existing green infrastructure.

Response 2: Thank you for your feedback. We have improved the characteristics of the analyzed areas, including images, maps, and material/plant characteristics. We have expanded the introduction section of our work to include topics on environmental conditions and adaptation to climate change.

We added a map with the location of cemeteries in the revised text of the work.

 

Comments 3:

*Include city maps with the location of cemeteries.

*Indicate the consequences of climate change in both cities studied.

*Include photographs of the study cemeteries.

Response 3: Thank you very much for your suggestions. All your observations were incorporated directly into the revised text.

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Cemeteries have unique advantages in protecting urban biodiversity, improving GI networks, providing ecological and social benefits. So the research is of certain significance. However, why to choose Berlin and Warsaw for research site? There is no sufficient explanation. At the same time, the location and surrounding environment of cemeteries in cities determine the users' preferences. But the questionnaire survey did not target specific cemetery sample sites, and the interviewee type was also slightly limited. Specific comments are as follows:

1. The title and key words should be changed.

The title fails to accurately reflect the main content of the research. For instance, what is the relationship between unused green urban space and cemetery? "climate change" is only used as the background but is not elaborated much in the research, so should it be included in the title? What does "residents' demand" refer to, which should be more detailed (Preference?).

2. The research purpose in the introduction does not match the research content.

The first research question “What are the differences between cemeteries and other urban green spaces?”, is not introduced in the text. Are there any differences in spatial layout and landscape design between cemeteries in Berlin and Warsaw? Therefore, it is necessary to introduce the current situation of cemeteries in the two cities in the text.

The second research question is “What is the natural and recreational potential of cemeteries in Germany and Poland in terms of climate change?” It is necessary to clarify which variables represent the natural and recreational potential respectively. In fact, the natural potential was not mentioned in the questionnaire.

3. Increase the description of respondents.

For example, why the young generation of Polish and German students were chosen for the respondents? Firstly, the demand of young people for open spaces does not match the characteristics of cemeteries, e.g. barbecues, parties which are not allowed in cemeteries, but the old people who visit cemeteries more often have not been included in the questionnaire. In addition, students come from different regions other than Warsaw and Berlin, which will reduce the credibility of the research.

In line 183, the number of respondents is 180, which is not the same with the number in the method (213).

4. Increase the logic in part of “discussion”.

In fact, cemeteries have been incorporated into the green space planning of Germany. It is suggested to add some analysis about the policy and planning related to the cemeteries in different countries.

5. Check the expression of all the figures.

E.g. in Figure 1-A, the legend classification is inaccurate. What does "countries that exceeded 1 trillion US dollars GDP in 2025" mean? Should it be classified under "Countries above 1 trillion US dollars GDP"? In Figure 1-B, the map of Germany should be displayed completely, and the font size on the map should be uniform.

Author Response

Comments 1:

Cemeteries have unique advantages in protecting urban biodiversity, improving GI networks, providing ecological and social benefits. So the research is of certain significance. However, why to choose Berlin and Warsaw for research site? There is no sufficient explanation. At the same time, the location and surrounding environment of cemeteries in cities determine the users' preferences. But the questionnaire survey did not target specific cemetery sample sites, and the interviewee type was also slightly limited.

Response 1: Thank you very much for your detailed review of our article and for your valuable comments and observations. We justified the selection of cities for the research more thoroughly in the revised text of the paper. The results of the questionnaire collectively describe the answers given in the group of cemeteries being studied for the purpose of comparing the issues being analyzed. We have included a list of characterized cemeteries in the text of the work.

 

Comments 2:

Specific comments are as follows:

The title and key words should be changed.

The title fails to accurately reflect the main content of the research. For instance, what is the relationship between unused green urban space and cemetery? "climate change" is only used as the background but is not elaborated much in the research, so should it be included in the title? What does "residents' demand" refer to, which should be more detailed (Preference?).

Response 2: Thank you for your feedback. We have modified the title and keywords to better match the issues discussed in the revised text of the paper.

 

Comments 3:

The research purpose in the introduction does not match the research content.

The first research question “What are the differences between cemeteries and other urban green spaces?”, is not introduced in the text. Are there any differences in spatial layout and landscape design between cemeteries in Berlin and Warsaw? Therefore, it is necessary to introduce the current situation of cemeteries in the two cities in the text. The second research question is “What is the natural and recreational potential of cemeteries in Germany and Poland in terms of climate change?” It is necessary to clarify which variables represent the natural and recreational potential respectively. In fact, the natural potential was not mentioned in the questionnaire.

Response 3: Thank you for your valuable comments. We have corrected the purpose of the work. We have added a section on the main research questions in the introduction. We have provided a more detailed description of the current situation of cemeteries in the two cities in the corrected text.

 

Comments 4:

Increase the description of respondents.

For example, why the young generation of Polish and German students were chosen for the respondents? Firstly, the demand of young people for open spaces does not match the characteristics of cemeteries, e.g. barbecues, parties which are not allowed in cemeteries, but the old people who visit cemeteries more often have not been included in the questionnaire. In addition, students come from different regions other than Warsaw and Berlin, which will reduce the credibility of the research.

Response 4: Thank you for your valuable observations. The student research group in the age range discussed was selected because it is the most representative for us. The younger generation will shape the trend of green infrastructure development. Older people answered less frequently and their opinion on the potential of cemeteries is more conservative and boils down to perceiving cemeteries mainly as a sphere of the sacred. This is demonstrated by our previous research conducted among users in Leipzig (Germany) and Lodz (Poland). We noticed that young people much more often choose the possibility of recreation as an alternative to rest. Hence, we wanted to repeat this test in European capitals. The respondents described cemeteries located in Warsaw and Berlin.

Comments 5:

In line 183, the number of respondents is 180, which is not the same with the number in the method (213).

Response 5:

Thank you for your insight. The discrepancies in the number of respondents are due to the fact that not all respondents answered every question in the survey. As a result, the total number of respondents was 213, assuming that respondents answered every question. However, there were some gaps (N/A) in the responses during the survey, which is why the number of respondents (answers) varied depending on the question. The example of the total number of n responses is added in the summary tables for the obtained question/response (Q1-Q9). We included this information directly in the corrected text of the work.

 

Comments 6:

Increase the logic in part of “discussion”.

In fact, cemeteries have been incorporated into the green space planning of Germany. It is suggested to add some analysis about the policy and planning related to the cemeteries in different countries.

Response 6: Thank you for your valuable comments. We have incorporated the suggested analyses into the revised text of the paper.

 

Comments 7:

Check the expression of all the figures.

E.g. in Figure 1-A, the legend classification is inaccurate. What does "countries that exceeded 1 trillion US dollars GDP in 2025" mean? Should it be classified under "Countries above 1 trillion US dollars GDP"? In Figure 1-B, the map of Germany should be displayed completely, and the font size on the map should be uniform.

Response 7: Thank you for your feedback. In the revised text, we have improved clarity and removed ambiguous descriptions of the figures by making appropriate corrections.

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

I enjoyed reading the paper—it brings a refreshing and original perspective on the importance of “green islands” in urban environments. Congratulations!

I have just a few minor suggestions:

1. Introduction: The paper asserts that cities like Berlin lack sufficient green spaces. However, from my experience, Berlin is exceptionally green. Could you clarify the basis for this claim? For instance, it would be helpful to specify which indicators (e.g., percentage of green cover, area per capita, number of parks) support the statement.

2. Cemetery context and mapping: The study focuses on perceptions of cemeteries, but how many cemeteries are there in Berlin and Warsaw? I’m aware of one very large cemetery in Berlin alone. It would enrich the analysis to provide context by indicating locations and green area sizes of these cemeteries—perhaps via a map.

3. Carbon capture and climate impact: In the discussion section, it would be valuable to include data on the percentage of carbon sequestration provided by cemeteries, or at least an estimate of how much their green biomass contributes to climate mitigation.

4. Conclusions: Finally, please integrate the points above (clarification of green space metrics, cemetery context/maps, and carbon capture insights) into the Conclusions to reinforce the study’s implications and actionable takeaways.

Author Response

Comments 1:

I enjoyed reading the paper—it brings a refreshing and original perspective on the importance of “green islands” in urban environments. Congratulations!

Response 1: Thank you very much for your detailed review of our article and for your valuable comments and observations.

 

Comments 2:

I have just a few minor suggestions:

Introduction: The paper asserts that cities like Berlin lack sufficient green spaces. However, from my experience, Berlin is exceptionally green. Could you clarify the basis for this claim? For instance, it would be helpful to specify which indicators (e.g., percentage of green cover, area per capita, number of parks) support the statement.

Response 2: Thank you for your feedback. We have added the suggested issues to the revised text of the paper.

 

Comments 3:

Cemetery context and mapping: The study focuses on perceptions of cemeteries, but how many cemeteries are there in Berlin and Warsaw? I’m aware of one very large cemetery in Berlin alone. It would enrich the analysis to provide context by indicating locations and green area sizes of these cemeteries—perhaps via a map.

Response 3: Thank you for your valuable comments. We have added the suggested information to the revised text. We have completed the work text with a map showing the location of the cemeteries.

Comments 4:

Carbon capture and climate impact: In the discussion section, it would be valuable to include data on the percentage of carbon sequestration provided by cemeteries, or at least an estimate of how much their green biomass contributes to climate mitigation.

Response 4: Thank you for suggesting that we add this topic to our research. We added the estimates with the appropriate figure to the discussion section in the revised text of the paper.

 

Comments 5:

Conclusions: Finally, please integrate the points above (clarification of green space metrics, cemetery context/maps, and carbon capture insights) into the Conclusions to reinforce the study’s implications and actionable takeaways.

Response 5: Thank you for your feedback. We have added new conclusions on the discussed issues in the revised text of the paper.

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The revised paper has generally improved, but there are still some problems need to revised.

1. Could the title be adjusted better? in which the characteristcs of "cemeteries" have not expressed.
2. The first and second research questions have not answered in the manuscript. There are some common features of Berlin and Warsaw cemeteries in the results (e.g. P8), but the difference between these two have not clarified clearly.
3. Some parts have a weak connection with the topic, which should be delete, e.g. Fig.5.

Author Response

We would like to thank the reviewer for his thorough analysis and assessment of the corrections to our work.

Comments 1:

The revised paper has generally improved, but there are still some problems need to revised. 1. Could the title be adjusted better? in which the characteristcs of "cemeteries" have not expressed.

Response 1: Thank you very much for your insight. The title of the work has been improved and fits better with the work context.

 

Comments 2:

2.The first and second research questions have not answered in the manuscript. There are some common features of Berlin and Warsaw cemeteries in the results (e.g. P8), but the difference between these two have not clarified clearly.

Response 2: Thank you very much for your feedback. The answers to research questions number 1 and 2 have been incorporated into the revised paper.

In general, it can be said that cemeteries in Germany and Poland differ in the level of maintenance of these sites and the way they are used. German cemeteries are well landscaped with vegetation, especially shrubbery and ground cover, while Polish cemeteries are "deserts" that are hard to call green spaces. The vegetation is stunted, and the old trees need to be replaced with new species that are more resistant to harsh climatic conditions. We discuss this in more detail when selecting new species in the revised paper. However, cemetery managers decide to use these places for new graves, which makes the cemetery a mix of concrete and granite at a higher temperature compared to the surrounding green areas.

The form of use is different because in Germany, cemeteries were partially designed as parks, not just places of burial. In Poland, on the other hand, cemeteries are a sphere of the sacred, which, according to our surveys and the cultural beliefs of people, do not allow for recreational forms of recreation. This stems from religion and the belief of Poles in the 'sanctity' of cemeteries and burials, where respect must be shown. Thus, recreation is not well accepted there. However, we observe that the younger generation is more secular and sees the option for recreational activities, for example, in municipal cemeteries, there are free spaces that could be used for summer cinemas or reading books near planned cafes or benches in the future. This trend is also visible in the latest research on religious beliefs by the youngest generation in Europe, especially including Poland (J. Stolz, ed.  „The three stages of religious decline around the world”. Nat. Commun. 16, 7202 (2025).

However, the spatial layout of cemeteries is determined by urban areas and the neighbourhood. According to a literature query for German cemeteries, the arrangement of urban cemeteries is mostly part of planning by specialists. In contrast, in Poland, the area is determined by managers (church administration or religious group stakeholders), and they are rarely part of the common landscape. These aspects have been more strongly emphasized in the discussion section of the paper.

 

Comments 3:

3.Some parts have a weak connection with the topic, which should be delete, e.g. Fig.5.

Response 3: Thank you very much for your suggestions. We agree. Figure 5 was removed because it does not fit the context of the paper.