CAN THE FOREST BE A MODEL FOR REDESIGNING URBAN ENVIRONMENTS? SOME THOUGHTS ON GREENING OUR CITIES

摘要

Viewed from above, the infrared signature of a city is most akin to a rock quarry, an environment that can sustain very little life. Increasing vegetation would create a signature more akin to forest through reductions in the urban heat island. Additional benefits would include reductions in air conditioning and the associated emissions, stormwater runoff and water pollution, and increasing biodiversity. The most common strategy to increase urban vegetation is urban forestry, but many cities lack adequate space at ground level, particularly in the more densely populated areas. Rooftop gardens are one alternative to trees at ground level, yet vertical gardening is another viable option as walls offer far more space for vegetation. This paper reports on the benefits and potential for urban forestry, rooftop and vertical gardens obtained from research and from existing literature.