Well said, you have raised a very important issue in today’s time. As the days are passing, we are marching closer to our end.
We, humans, are the most dominant animal in the biosphere. Like other animals, we also depend on nature for our survival. But we are changing our environment to fulfill our wants. And we are so busy fulfilling are wants that we have forgotten that we are unbalancing our environment.
Many of us even don’t know that rain cannot occur without trees. Rain falls because trees produce a climate that is both chilly and damp. Second, as rain occurs, the water is captured by the trees and prevented from reaching the ground because the trees prevent the water from passing through the soil. This prevents flooding. Thirdly, they are the source of sustenance for all forms of life.
It is good to see from your article that many regions are taking a stand to preserve and develop more green infrastructure to maintain balance.
I remember one of the examples of green infrastructure too- Singapore. It is also an inspiring example of Blue-Green Infrastructure. Being an island, it has unique challenges to urban planning and infrastructure, they have sacrificed most of its green spaces for development to support a growing population through the 20th century. For Singapore, one of the greatest climate risks is the possibility of mega-droughts, where Singapore had to import water from neighboring countries for decades to augment its supply. Back in the 1970s and again in the early 2000s, Singapore launched massive campaigns to remodel its city into a leading example of green infrastructure and smart water management, earning its nickname The Garden City.
Now a Global HydroHub led by Singapore’s National water agency (PUB) and Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB). They have integrated three key strategies:
• collect every single drop of rainwater
• reuse water indefinitely, and
• desalinate seawater.
Now two-thirds of the city surface is able to capture rainwater and covey that water through various tunnels to 18 reservoirs. They have built several desalination plants to treat seawater. They have also pushed the notion of livable density, making green buildings mandatory since 2008 and making all new developments require plant life. They have one of the largest green walls in the world – boasting 5,300 square meters – located at the Singapore Institute of Technical Education’s College Central.
So, it’s never too late to mend. The green space that was lost has now been brought back, vertically. Some of Singapore’s recent plans include creating almost 650 km of walking and cycling paths throughout the city.
https://www.pub.gov.sg/
https://www.urbangreenbluegrids.com/projects/singapore/
Future of Green Infrastructure
What is the future of green infrastructure one might ask and how significant it is? Green infrastructure is defined as the network of natural spaces and corridors that include human intervention or natural habitats. As we all know there is a dire need for green and healthy cities as climate change is a real issue and irreversible damage has already been done to this planet’s natural habitat. Much of it is already lost and the fauna is becoming extinct with each passing day.
As urban designers, we are at the forefront of bringing a significant shift in the way cities are planned. Various measures are being undertaken by different countries to address this issue. One fine example was Misery Quarry, from the lecture by Professor Armelle Tardiveau who gave us a seminar about Urban Renewal.
Misery Quarry is formerly a stone quarry transformed into a tropical garden. It is meant to connect different neighborhoods and forms a linkage for various activities. The biodiversity has drastically improved with parts of wastelands being preserved. The cascading waterfalls add to the beauty of the gardens. It also promotes tourism thereby helping the socio-economic factors.
http://https://thegreencities.eu/candidate-france-2021/
Green infrastructure is taking root in parts of London. There have been several landscape projects in Central London. The Vauxhall missing link project replaces a busy road designed to promote an active pedestrian network and cycling. The rain garden helps in harvesting water and supports biodiversity.
https://www.ribacompetitions.com/vauxhallthemissinglink/
European city Essen in Germany is also a fine example where green transformation is taking place. formerly a polluted industrial neighborhood now will have a mesmerizing view of the green roofs, bioswales, and gardens. the city is implementing nature-based solutions rather than a more technological approach. Krupp Park is an example of the transformation.
https://una.city/nbs/essen/krupp-park
We are all aware of the benefits of green infrastructure. Since the pandemic, we, have been keeping health on the pedestal, and green infrastructure has been known to promote health. One of the key aspects is reducing the pollution that has been caused by carbon emissions. It is also known to impact mental health as well, creating a barrier with the noisy atmosphere, and known to have a calming effect on the mind. The citizens tend to socialize better in a greener environment and have a happier conversation around them. It has economic benefits as well where research by London Metropolitan University suggests the efficiency in a workplace is higher when there is greenery around and boosts the business.
As Urban Designers incorporate greenery in the neighborhood the location and amenities play a vital role in the utility factor. There have been examples where green infrastructure has had a great impact on the minds of the inhabitants. It becomes a place for various primary and secondary activities thereby improving the biodiversity of the surroundings. Relations between the inhabitants tend to improve around green spaces. Healthy and sustainable neighborhoods are more likely to pave the way we perceive the future of cities.
References
Lecture and presentation on Urban Renewal by Armelle Tardiveau
Content – https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/green_capital.pdf
Essen – https://www.upm.com/articles/beyond-fossils/22/three-pioneering-cities-one-sustainable-future/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=contentmarketing&utm_term=HeroQ2&utm_content=&gclid=CjwKCAiAnZCdBhBmEiwA8nDQxfMiBi8boV8lJdnm9Sfoa6smg0vmPQobk9kkPRCuELlD9zJCafWzBBoCpMQQAvD_BwE
Well said, you have raised a very important issue in today’s time. As the days are passing, we are marching closer to our end.
We, humans, are the most dominant animal in the biosphere. Like other animals, we also depend on nature for our survival. But we are changing our environment to fulfill our wants. And we are so busy fulfilling are wants that we have forgotten that we are unbalancing our environment.
Many of us even don’t know that rain cannot occur without trees. Rain falls because trees produce a climate that is both chilly and damp. Second, as rain occurs, the water is captured by the trees and prevented from reaching the ground because the trees prevent the water from passing through the soil. This prevents flooding. Thirdly, they are the source of sustenance for all forms of life.
It is good to see from your article that many regions are taking a stand to preserve and develop more green infrastructure to maintain balance.
I remember one of the examples of green infrastructure too- Singapore. It is also an inspiring example of Blue-Green Infrastructure. Being an island, it has unique challenges to urban planning and infrastructure, they have sacrificed most of its green spaces for development to support a growing population through the 20th century. For Singapore, one of the greatest climate risks is the possibility of mega-droughts, where Singapore had to import water from neighboring countries for decades to augment its supply. Back in the 1970s and again in the early 2000s, Singapore launched massive campaigns to remodel its city into a leading example of green infrastructure and smart water management, earning its nickname The Garden City.
Now a Global HydroHub led by Singapore’s National water agency (PUB) and Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB). They have integrated three key strategies:
• collect every single drop of rainwater
• reuse water indefinitely, and
• desalinate seawater.
Now two-thirds of the city surface is able to capture rainwater and covey that water through various tunnels to 18 reservoirs. They have built several desalination plants to treat seawater. They have also pushed the notion of livable density, making green buildings mandatory since 2008 and making all new developments require plant life. They have one of the largest green walls in the world – boasting 5,300 square meters – located at the Singapore Institute of Technical Education’s College Central.
So, it’s never too late to mend. The green space that was lost has now been brought back, vertically. Some of Singapore’s recent plans include creating almost 650 km of walking and cycling paths throughout the city.
https://www.pub.gov.sg/
https://www.urbangreenbluegrids.com/projects/singapore/
Great post, I totally agree with everything said above. However, I would like to see a mention of biodiversity here, as it is one of the main principles of Green Infrastructure. In addition, I think it could be better explained the role of GI in combating Global warming. However, I truly appreciate the way you expressed how a green environment affects human health and would like to talk about it in more detail.
The advantages of green infrastructure, as you indicated, include socioeconomic, psychological, and physical advantages that apply to both individuals and communities. Independent of age, sex, marital status, or socioeconomic level, the presence of Green Infrastructure features boosts time spent outside, which has an impact on both physical and mental health. Access to green, pedestrian-friendly streets and areas has been linked to a variety of health benefits, including longer life expectancy, lower blood pressure and body mass index, a lower risk of stroke, cardiovascular disease, and obesity. Actively engaging in nature has been shown to considerably lower blood pressure, and engaging in activities in green spaces helps children with attention deficit disorder function better. Residents’ mental tiredness and depression are decreased when green spaces are visible from their homes. At the communal level, natural elements and open areas are crucial for social cohesiveness. For instance, it has been discovered that green infrastructure increases the possibility of casual interactions and aids in fostering a sense of community spirit. It could perhaps lower crime rates. Last but not least, nature can be culturally and aesthetically valuable, which can enhance one’s sense of wellbeing and health.
The benefits of urban greenspaces for physical and mental health in England have been calculated to save between EUR 2-3 billion in health care expenses (ENV, 2012 and references therein). The aforementioned health concerns have connections to unemployment and sick days. For the Netherlands, KPMG calculated that greening neighbourhoods would result in annual gains of hundreds of millions of euros. Millions of euros might be saved by reducing sick leave by just 1%.
The advantages of green infrastructure must be compared to its social and financial drawbacks, which include “missed opportunity” costs. The unintended consequences of green infrastructure must also be considered, including the health risk posed by biting arthropods (such as ticks and mosquitoes) that may transmit diseases (such as Lyme disease and the West Nile virus) as well as allergic reactions to things like pollen and the spread of invasive species and pathogens. When compared to the observed positive impacts, such “ecological disservices” show that green infrastructure offers numerous advantages at a reasonable price. Additionally, ecosystems affected by the rehabilitation or restoration of green infrastructure typically become less susceptible to the risk of the spread of invasive alien species. Therefore, invasive species can be avoided by the use of green infrastructure.
Summing up, Green Infrastructure is the field in which urban planning must necessarily develop if we want to see a thriving environment but not a dying one. I really hope that soon this direction will be generally accepted all over the world and more people will have the opportunity to live in blooming gardens.
References:
ENV, 2012. Science for environment policy. In-depth report on the multi-functionality of Green Infrastructure, March 2012. Available from: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/ecosystems/docs/Green_Infrastructure.pdf
European Union Directorate-General for Research and Innovation Climate Action, Environment, Resource Efficiency and Raw Materials, 2015. Towards an EU Research and Innovation policy agenda for Nature-Based
Solutions & Re-Naturing Cities; Final Report of the Horizon 2020 Expert Group on Nature-Based Solutions and Re-Naturing Cities. doi: 10.2777/479582
KPMG(2012). Report Groen gezond en productief. The Economics of Ecosystems & Biodiversity (TEEB NL)
http://www.kpmg.com/NL/nl/IssuesAndInsights/ArticlesPublications/Documents/PDF/Sustainability/Groen-gezond-en-productief.pdf
Tzoulas, K., Korpela, K., Venn, S. et al. (2007) Promoting ecosystem and human health in urban areas using Green Infrastructure: A literature review. Landscape & Urban Planning 81:167-178
It is amazing how nature works perfectly on its own and how all human interventions affect the whole environment and threaten the life of so many species. There is an interesting piece that I came across online by “Linnea Harris” which shows how some cities started to rewild instead of just making city gardens by restoring the city to its original natural roots and enhancing the biodiversity in the environment.
The piece ‘8 Cities Rewilding Their Urban Spaces’ discusses Singapore as an example and explains that:
“In an effort to increase quality of life and restore native vegetation in the city, the Gardens by the Bay have transformed Singapore from a “Garden city” to a “City in a Garden.” 18 “Supertrees” are dispersed throughout the landscape along Marina Bay, some as high as 160 feet; while not living things themselves, the trees are home to over 158,000 plants and mimic the functions of regular trees by providing shade, filtering rainwater, and absorbing heat.
Built on former industrial land, Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park is also an example of rewilding in Singapore, incorporating elements of water-sensitive urban design and reducing the urban heat island effect in the city. The park is built around the Bishan river, which now flows freely as a natural stream system, unimpeded by man-made barriers. Within the first two years after these rewilding efforts were implemented in the park, biodiversity increased by 30%, even though no wildlife was introduced. Additionally, visitors from the surrounding cities of Bishan Yushin, and Ang Mo Kio are provided a natural respite from city life.
Beyond parks, Singapore maintains more than 90 miles of Nature Ways: canopied corridors that connect green spaces, facilitating the movement of animals and butterflies from one natural area to another throughout the city. These routes mimic the layers of the ecosystem with shrub, understory, canopy, and emergent layers, providing habitats for different species at their various heights.
Singapore has also developed a City Biodiversity Index to examine and track the progress of biodiversity and conservation projects. Thanks in part to these rewilding efforts, Singapore is now considered Asia’s greenest city.”
Many cities are aiming to improve their green infrastructure and biodiversity. However, in order for these efforts to work local authorities need to look closely at the inhabitants of the wildlife in their cities and make adjustments and accommodation for its inhabitants. This should help improve the future wildlife in the urban spaces. For example, establishing All-Ireland Pollinator plan 2015-2020 (Michael Viney – The Irish Times) to protect the bees. It’s funny how during the lockdowns I have seen some animal pictures wandering in the cities around the world on the news at the time. So we need the environmental researchers to work with urban designers to make the ecosystem more diverse in urban areas. As urbanization is the biggest threat to nature and wildlife.
References:
*Example Singapore in “8 Cities Rewilding Their Urban Spaces” from: World Economic Forum by Linnea Harris 2021
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/06/8-cities-rewilding-their-urban-spaces/
*All-Ireland Pollinator plan 2015-2020 (Michael Viney – The Irish Times) : https://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/beehives-in-dublin-city-will-need-expert-management-1.3988190
I totally agree with your point of view.
Given the critical state of our environment, the future of green infrastructure is indeed an urgent and relevant topic. Given the irreversible damage that climate change is doing to our natural habitats, this discussion accurately underscores the need for green and healthy cities. As the blog highlights, biodiversity is being lost at an alarming rate and the extinction of animal species is a reality we face every day.
The reference to the “Quarry of Misery,” a quarry turned tropical garden, is a powerful illustration of what urban regeneration can achieve. The transformation of these spaces not only fosters community connections, but also significantly enhances biodiversity. In addition, the social and economic benefits brought by the development of tourism cannot be ignored.
The blog rightly points out the health benefits of green infrastructure, especially in the context of the pandemic. The reduction in pollution due to reduced carbon emissions, the psychological benefits, and the promotion of social interaction in green spaces are all noteworthy.
However, the discussion might benefit from a deeper exploration of the challenges involved in implementing green infrastructure. For example, issues related to maintenance, financing, and even resistance by communities unfamiliar with the concept of green infrastructure may be interesting issues to consider.
I am particularly interested in the potential of green spaces as sites of primary and secondary activity and how they can improve the relationship between biodiversity and inhabitants.
In conclusion, while your blog effectively highlights the importance and benefits of green infrastructure, a more comprehensive discussion may include potential barriers and ways to overcome them. Armed with insights like this, we have the potential to pave the way for healthier, more sustainable communities.