The blistering summer that has drained rivers in many parts of Europe and forced residents to spend half the day in air-conditioned environments is prompting planners to look for ways to reduce heat in urban areas. Specialists from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) came up with an interesting idea, recommending the creation of “natural corridors” in cities. In this way it will be possible not only to reduce air pollution and heat waves, but also to help flora and fauna to regain their diversity.
Urbanization has long been a sore subject for nature lovers and environmentalists. The concentration of a large number of people in a small geographical area inevitably leads to an increase in environmental pollution. However, the jobs, business and entertainment opportunities offered by the city are too tempting, so the migration of residents to the metropolises will continue, and by 2050 two-thirds of all people are expected to live directly in the cities. Unless there is some unexpected twist
Green buffer zones
Realizing that cities will continue to grow, ZSL offers to “dilute” them with the forest. That is to say, to create a wooded buffer zone between inhabited blocks, where the rules of nature would regulate: trees and plants would grow freely, animals and insects would live. Keeping forests tidy requires less care than parks – trees don’t have to be cut down and grass isn’t mown there. Trees shade buildings and help shelter from the heat, as well as “eating” the exhaust fumes produced by cars. The authors of the idea believe that such a solution will help reduce the air temperature in cities and that cleaner air will be available to citizens.
In the already built parts of the cities, the areas around rivers, lakes and railways, as well as abandoned industrial areas, would be destined for forest.
Of course, at the same time, city dwellers must take into account the entry of nature into their living space. There will be more and more birdsong, the more often you will have to clean the remnants of food processed by their stomachs from pavements and cars. At night, foxes can hide around trash cans, snakes can be seen basking in the sun on sidewalks, and deer can run around the streets.
Reduces the effects of heating
“Forest fires, floods and heat waves around the world have brought the climate crisis to the fore this year for many people,” writes Natalija Petorelli, principal author of the ZSL Institute of Zoology and expert on climate and biodiversity, “fortunately. , the connection between the climate crisis and the destruction of nature are now widely recognized, so reforestation is becoming more and more widely accepted. By giving nature more freedom in our cities, we can not only help them protect them from extreme climatic conditions such as storms, floods and heat waves, helping to cool cities and create natural flood defenses, while also promoting wildlife in cities. “
Such a concept has already been tested in Germany and Singapore, and its authors consider the introduction of forests to the city as a success. For example, there are around 158,000 plants growing in Singapore’s gardens, and among these are also 18 artificial trees, the tallest of which is over 50 meters in height. They can do all the same things as real trees: absorb heat, filter rainwater, and cast shade.
Previous studies have shown that nature has a positive effect on a person’s mental health. Walking in the woods helps reduce anxiety and depression.
However, scientists point out that urban afforestation should be done by professionals. “Large-scale conversion should be carried out with expert guidance, as otherwise well-intentioned but misleading efforts can lead to further biodiversity loss and increase public health threats from invasive species, the spread of fauna-borne diseases. wild and further exacerbate social inequality, “says Petrelli.
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