Adapting to the effects of climate change is one of the biggest challenges cities worldwide face. Unlike most publications that focus on large municipalities, this paper examines 103 Polish small and medium-sized cities (< 100,000 inhabitants) to determine whether their authorities perceive a need to implement climate change adaptation measures, the barriers to such measures, and the factors affecting their implementation. A triangulation method was used to conduct 103 surveys with representatives of Environmental Protection Departments and to conduct interviews with representatives of 10 selected locations. Their results reveal that city size does not directly affect adaptation to climate change, and that adaptation is not a priority for the authorities. Insufficient support from the central government to local governments is the strongest barrier to implementing adaptation measures. By focusing on small and medium-sized cities in Central and Eastern Europe, the study provides new empirical insights into how institutional context and social factors shape local climate change adaptation under limited resource constraints.

The aim of this study is to assess the natural value of trees and the multidimensional ecological potential of the dendroflora of Fort V in Warsaw in the context of climate change adaptation. Special attention was paid to evaluating the ecological functions of the tree stand within the historical fortress facility and its theoretical structural capacity to support urban green infrastructure. An integrated methodology combining field inventory with spatial analysis (GIS) was applied. The research included the taxonomic identification of trees, the assessment of threats from invasive species, and the calculation of tree canopy cover areas. The spatial structure and land-cover proportions were analyzed using area-based indicators to assess the theoretical capacity of the site to support urban green infrastructure. The research demonstrates significant species diversity and a high proportion of taxa that promote ecological stability; however, the presence of taxa with invasive potential was also identified. Biologically active areas account for over 94% of the site. The extensive tree canopy cover (the dominant land cover at 61.59%) provides extensive physical shading of the terrain and forms a dense structural barrier, while open areas of low greenery (33.86%) provide favorable spatial conditions for optimizing the recreational and social functions of the fort. The spatial structure and land-cover proportions of Fort V suggest its strong potential to function as an effective node of urban green infrastructure that can support local resilience to climate change. Proper management of dendroflora in post-military areas, which combines heritage conservation with nature-based solutions (NBSs), requires systematic monitoring and the implementation of targeted adaptive measures, including the eradication of invasive species.