Urban greening combats air and noise pollution, soaks up rainwater reducing flooding, creates a habitat for local wildlife, and lifts morale in the people who see it, which calms traffic and lessens urban crime.
By Charlotte Mostert
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What is Urban Greening? It has been defined as creating a mutually beneficial relationship between people who reside in the city and the environment, through public landscaping and urban forestry.
Greening a city is one way of improving a cities microclimate. Traffic and industrial activity emit heat, while concrete traps heat, leading to urban air temperature being higher than in rural environments. This adaption of temperatures to hotter climates compels individuals to opt for air conditioners in order to stay cool. The introduction of cooling systems in the concrete jungle adds to the increasing energy demands and continues to emit more heat, worsening the urban heat island effect.
Studies have shown that green roofs result in up to a 75% reduction in demand for cooling and it improves the quality of water runoff on buildings, reducing the volume of pollutants entering watercourses. Through dry deposition pollutants such as microscopic particulate matter are trapped in the wax or cuticles of leaves reduces pollution and keeps cities cool in the increasingly scorching summers that lie ahead.
The impermeable surfaces that dominate the city prevent rainfall from being absorbed and accelerate the possibilities of flooding, leading to economic loss and disruption. Where vegetated surfaces absorb the majority of rainfall, inevitably slowing down the process of surface runoff reaching drainage capacity.
Urban greening presents a fantastic opportunity to increase property value, help businesses thrive, and boost tourism. Integrating green infrastructure directly enhances real estate value, as properties with thoughtful landscaping and mature tree canopies consistently command higher rental and resale premiums. These green investments also benefit local commerce, often leading to increased foot traffic and higher consumer spending in nearby retail districts. Furthermore, being situated near well-managed, high-quality urban green spaces provides a measurable proximity premium, lifting the value of both adjacent municipal and private properties.
The greening of a city creates a space for all living beings to come together. When there is a variety of different plants and trees in an area there is a resurgence of natural life, from insects to birds and in some cases mammals. One of the greatest accomplishments is that it unites humans with nature again, allowing humans to play barefoot on the grass while watching butterflies fly past and count the bird’s nests in the trees.
Green space encourages people to get outside and take part in physical activity. Studies show that there is an increase in social activities in green spaces up to 83%. There is a greater sense of community and social inclusion when encapsulated in green spaces.
Instead, it would be more financially beneficial and environmentally sustainable, in the long run, to plant green roofs and invest in having plants in the surrounding area. For trees and vegetation are natural cooling systems, through water that evaporates from their leaves when exposed to the sun’s rays, and by shading surfaces that otherwise might have absorbed heat. Trees communicate with one another through fungi that grow in their root, which provides the tree with nutrients. Through this network, they can share resources with one another, nicknamed “The Wood Wide Web”, as well as creating a path for larger trees to send nutrients to smaller trees in their shade. This structure is to ensure the survival of trees and plants are maintained.
Urban trees are effective air filters, removing harmful pollutants in the air, storing carbon which helps mitigate the impacts of climate change in and around urban areas. Therefore NASA has produced research identifying the top ten best plants to use in interior projects.
By greening cities, we can keep ourselves cool amid rising temperatures, reverse the steady erosion of the rich tapestry of life on Earth, and foster happiness and social connection in the process. Now that you understand the importance of urban greening, come get involved in being the change with Greenpop! Take Action today.
Photos by Go2Africa
