urban greenery ways and means

URBAN GREENERY

Dr. N. Sai Bhaskar Reddy

Coordinator, ClimaAdapt

WALAMTARI 12/3/2015

World Population Growth 1750-2150

• About 3 billion people, or 50 per cent of the global population, already live in urban areas; over the next 25 years, more than 2 billion people are predicted to be added

Source: UN- HABITAT Report 2005; United Nations, World Urbanization Prospects, The 1999 Revision

Growth of Urban Agglomerations 1950-2015

URBAN FACTS

• Roughly 3% of the earth’s land surface is occupied by urban areas, with the highest concentrations occurring along the coasts and waterways

Sources: UNEP, WRI, Population Reference Bureau, 2006; UN/ESA,2005

• Of the 10 world's most populous urban agglomerations, 6 are in Asia; global population is around 6.4 billion and growing at 70 million/year, mostly in low income countries

• In 2000, about 47 % of the world’s population lived in urban areas

• By 2030, 60 % of the world population is expected to be urban

•By 2030 it is predicted that 60% of India’s population could live in cities.

• Urban Forestry Wing was created in HMDA (erstwhile HUDA) in the year 1986 with the objective of bringing open spaces under greenery by raising different types of plantation models like block plantation, avenue plantation, tree parks, colony parks and gardens in order to improve the overall environment of Hyderabad for better quality life.

Objectives of the Urban Greening Programme

• Greening the HMDA area to reduce air, noise and water pollution.

• Conversion of Unproductive lands into greenery to provide gainful employment.

• Increase the availability of fire wood and fodder to local villagers

• Income generation for the women groups through Nursery raising activity.

The following are the HMDA's Urban Forestry initiatives:

• Green Hyderabad Environment Programme(2002-2006)

• Greenery Development In Industrial Areas

• One Day One / Two Lakh Plantation

• Plantation Programme On National Highways

• Tree Park At Trumpet Junction, Shamshabad

• Nurseries

• Parks Developed By Urban Forestry Wing

• Environmental Initiatives In Bpp Area

• Urban biodiversity and urban forestry can play a vital role in regulating a city’s environment – while also improving the social well-being of residents.

• Trees absorb carbon, air pollution and dust. A recent report by the University of Birmingham in the UK revealed that walls of vegetation in cities can cut pollution by as much as 30%.

• Urban forestry can also help reduce noise pollution – absorbing and deflecting sounds. Splitting the roads, Hyderabad’s greenways shield drivers from the headlights of on coming vehicles.

• They run for 9km along the main Hyderabad carriageways, while underneath raised roadways, another 11.5km of shrubbery can be found. The plants used are chosen for their ability to absorb the highest amount of dust and air pollution.

• The greenways are just one of several biodiversity projects covering the whole of Hyderabad. In the centre of the city, parks are dotted in between buildings offering an escape from the dust and the debris of a growing city.

PLANTING A TREE

“Spiritual values in

planting trees are the key

to healing ourselves and

our environment.”

Nobel laureate

Wangari Maathai, Founder,

Green Belt Movement

“It is not enough to plant the tree, you also have to

make sure that the tree will survive and that there is

public awareness about the survival needs of the trees”.

- Prof. Thomas B. Randrup Danish Centre for Forest, Landscape and Planning

URBAN GREENERY/FORESTRY

• Due to undergoing urbanization trend worldwide, distance between city inhabitants and nature is increasing.

• Urban greenery/forestry is one of the ways to bridge this gap between people and nature.

• Most of the Indian cities are far behind in quality as well as quantity of urban forests than their counterpart in Europe and America.

• High population density is one of the reasons for underdevelopment of urban greenery sector.

URBAN FORESTRY

• Urban areas, home to more than half the world’s poor, are projected to account for nearly all population growth over the next 25 years, with 9 out of every 10 births occurring in cities.

• Urban forestry initiatives can help offset the environmental, economic and health risks posed by rapid urbanization and poverty.

• Urban dwellers are increasingly recognizing the importance of trees and other vegetation beyond their visual contribution to the cityscape.

• In many cities whose main streets are lined with trees and flowers, the revitalization of greenery in highlighting the abundant benefits resulting from good urban forestry practices.

URBAN FORESTRY

Urban forestry is the careful care and management of urban forests, (i.e.) tree populations in urban settings for the purpose of improving the urban environment.

ROLE OF URBAN GREEN SPACES

• Urban forestry is the art, science and technology of managing trees and forest resources in and around urban community Ecosystems for physiological, sociological, economic and aesthetic benefits that trees provide for society

OBJECTIVES OF URBAN GREENING

To reduce air pollution by sequestering gases such as CO, NO 2 , SO 2 and other harmful gases and by filtering air particulates.

To minimize water pollution by absorbing toxic and heavy metals.

To reduce the volume of surface runoff and soil erosion thereby minimizing floods in flood prone areas.

To enhance biodiversity.

To provide shade and act as windbreaks.

To beautify and enhance the aesthetic value of the urban landscape.

To reduce noise.

To provide alternative livelihood to urban communities.

Master Plan for Forestry Development

• Forest establishment and management in the urban environment for the physiological well-being of the people;

• A deliberate process of cultivating trees, shrubs, or ornamental plants to offset the effects of pollution and at the same time provide scenic surroundings in an otherwise drab and dreary landscape of concrete and steel structures;

• A forest park, a nature center, a greenbelt, a boulevard lined with trees or public ground with trees; and

• A greening movement designed to raise the quality of the environment in urban centers.”

URBAN FORESTRYDIRECT BENEFITS

Its direct benefits can be translated into socio-economic benefits as follows

Abatement of the intensity of noise;

Energy conservation,

Increase of market value of the land,

Source of raw materials such as wood,

Beautification and improvement of the aesthetic value of the landscape,

Deduction of glares and reflection of solar radiation,

Screening of objectionable views like junkyards and slums,

Provision of vegetational obstruction to seclude a particular area from its surroundings.

URBAN FORESTRYINDIRECT BENEFITS

The indirect benefits are geared toward the enhancement and improvement of the environment

• Generally, it makes the urban environment a better place to live.

Research results revealed that trees

• a) can sequester atmospheric gases such as CO, NO 2 , SO 2 and other harmful gases,

• b) filter air particulates,

• c) modify air temperature,

• d) serve as windbreaks,

• e) increase infiltration,

• f) reduce surface runoff and minimize soil erosion,

• g) protect riverbanks and watersheds,

• h) absorb toxic and heavy metals, and

• i) provide food and habitat for urban wildlife.

CONSTRAINTS TO URBAN FORESTRY

• Resolving limitations will require coordinated efforts among cities, regions, and countries

• Loss of green space is continuous as cities expand; available growing space is limited in city centres. This problem is compounded by pressure to convert green space, parks, etc. into building sites

• Inadequate space is allowed for the root system.

• Poor soil is used when planting specimens.

• Incorrect and neglected staking leads to bark damage.

• Larger, more mature trees are often used to provide scale and a sense of establishment to a scheme. These trees grow more slowly and do not thrive in alien soils whilst smaller specimens can adapt more readily to existing conditions.

• Lack of information on the tolerances of urban tree cultivars to environmental constraints.

• Poor tree selection which leads to problems in the future

• Poor nursery stock and failure of post-care

• Limited genetic diversity

• Too few communities have working tree inventories and very few have urban forest management plans.

• Lack of public awareness about the benefits of healthy urban forests.

• Poor tree care practices by citizens and untrained arborists.

Revival of Hussain Sagar lake in Hyderabad

BIOCHAR

Biochar is another name for charcoal used for particular purposes other than combustion.

Like all charcoal, biochar is created by the pyrolysis of biomass.

BIOCHARCULTURE

Biocharculture is a holistic approach that has been historically tested, traditionally practiced, is culturally integral, economically viable, socially responsible, environmentally sustainable, and agreeable as a policy.

The uses of biochar—as part of biocharculture—include its application in the areas of soil management, livestock, biomass energy, water purification, green habitats, sanitation, food, health, etc.

URBAN GARDENS

BIOCHAR URBAN GARDENS

Plants Coarse uniform Sand Biochar Compost

Black Plastic Sheet Bricks

Advantages of Biochar Urban Gardens

These are low cost solutions for efficient use of urban spaces.

Complement food needs by growing food.

Fresh and nutritious food is available close to habitation

Economic savings through access to self grown food

Utilization of waste for creating biochar compost.

Carbon sequestration through biochar use.

Emissions reduction, improved soil fertility and management, efficient use of water and conservation, increased soil microbial density, micorhazea (fungus), etc.

Perforated pipe

Sand

Biochar

Gravel

SEWAGIGATION

Road

Sewerage

Clean water for irrigation

Drip Irrigation

FLOATIGATION

water

Plastic container

Float (Styrofoam)

CITY

River

Catchment of city

Green Belt

Ringroad

Cascades

Future cities – annular / circular / seggregated water harvesting water bodies

INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCES

MANAGEMENT

• Integrated water resources management is based on the perception of water as an integral part of the ecosystem, a natural resource and a social and economic good, whose quantity and quality determine the nature of its utilization. To this end, water resources have to be protected, taking into account the functioning of aquatic ecosystems and the perennialityof the resource, in order to satisfy and reconcile needs for water in human activities. In developing and using water resources, priority has to be given to the satisfaction of basic needs and the safeguarding of ecosystems.

The ecosystem approach:

• The ecosystem approach is a strategy for the integrated management of water bodies that promotes conservation and sustainable use. It is based on the application of appropriate scientific methodologies focused on levels of biological organization which encompass the essential processes, functions and interactions among organisms and their environment. It recognizes that humans, with their cultural diversity, are an integral component of ecosystems.

• "Ecosystem" means a dynamic complex of plant, animal and micro-organism communities and their non-living environment interacting as a functional unit“

Reclaiming rivers

Soil Moisture measurement in the soil at various depths using ER sensors and

Arduino

Sensors

Ultrasonic sensor for water level Temperature and relative humidity sensor

Microcontroller and GSM Board

Arduino Uno Microcontroller GSM BOARD FOR SENDING SMS

TWEET AND CLICK

TWEET sensor for water level with GSM CLICK sensor for soil moisture with GSM

Ref: http://