upaf a solution to urban development issues; climate resilience

Promoting URBAN AGRICULTURE as a CLIMATE CHANGE STRATEGY in

Kesbewa, Sri Lanka

Lafir S. Mohamed |Project Manager – Urban Resilience

Central College – Piliyandala20.02.2013

COMMON CHALLENGES IN URBAN AREAS

Cities 5-7º C hotter than the surrounding rural areas

Yearly Max Rainfall (upper)

Mahanama et al. Vulnerability Mapping, Kesbewa Urban Council Area

Extreme rainy Days –floods in Kesbewa

Food inflow to Kesbewa –Banana and papaya

Embilipitiya

Quantity: 3496kg

(76%)

300 km

Maning

Market Quantity:

450kg (9.7%)

36 km

Other area Quantity:

340kg (7.4%)

350 Km

Local

Production Quantity: 318kg

(6.9%)

6 km

URBAN AGRICULTURE (URBAN AND PERI URBAN AGRO FORESTRY)

CAN IT BE A SOLUTON ?

1. Storage

2. Infiltration

3. Evapo-transpiration.

Forest

0% impervious

85% Evapotranspiration

10% Runoff

Slides/Photos: L. Kohrnack

10-20% Impervious

Surface

Low Density

Residential Evapotranspiration

20% Runoff

50%

Industrial

and

Commercial

30% evaporation

55% Runoff

75-100% Impervious

surface

UPAF contribution to climate change mitigation, adaptation and co-

benefits

Mitigation:

• Reducing food miles, energy use and GHG emissions by replacing food imports with food grown in the city-region

• Enhancing carbon sequestration and storage in urban forestry

• Reducing methane emissions from landfills and energy use in fertiliser production by productively re-using urban organic wastes

UPAF contribution to climate change mitigation, adaptation and co-

benefits

Adaptation

• Reducing Urban Heat Island Effect by increasing surface of green area and tree cover

• Reducing incidence of floods by enhancing storm water infiltration and reducing run-off

• Reducing vulnerability of the poor by diversifying food and income sources

• Source of inspiration and learning

UPAF contribution to climate change mitigation, adaptation and co-

benefits

Co-benefits

• Improved nutrition

• Income generation and job creation

• Social and community building

WITH UPAF WITH OUT UPAF

011 2829412

THANK YOU