Urban rewilding and why it’s a win-win-win! Curious EarthMay 14, 2024     More people than ever are living in cities, and accordingly, urban centres are ever-expanding. However, many cities and their residents are struggling with the multiple threats of the climate and nature crises, poor air quality, and worsening mental health. To try and combat these issues some cities are now looking to go green, literally! Whether we call it urban rewilding, greening, or even ‘depaving’, the idea is the same – to replace concrete with plants – and the benefits are huge. 

Greening our cities can have multiple benefits, for both people and the planet. Here are just some of the reasons why it’s time to go wild.....So, what are these benefits?

  • Cooling: The sheer volume of buildings, traffic, and people in cities creates an ‘urban heat-island’ effect, raising the local temperature. Plants and trees can help cool cities by up to 2.9°c. Just 1 single tree can cool as much as 10 air-conditioning units! 
  • Improved air quality: Vegetation absorbs pollutants and particulates much better than other surfaces, effectively cleaning our air for us. A Royal Horticultural Society study into urban hedges found that 1m of dense hedge can absorb the pollution produced by a car over a 500 mile drive. 
  • Improved water management: Green infrastructure in our cities can reduce flooding, reduce stormwater runoff, and help filter pollution, preventing it from reaching our rivers and oceans. Research has shown that greening our streets can help absorb and retain stormwater at a lower cost than other water control methods. 
  • Increased biodiversity: Urban development is one of the biggest threats to wildlife, but with careful planning, our cities can provide important habitats for a wide range of species. Cities that have created even small-scale green spaces have seen an increase in biodiversity, particularly amongst pollinators and birds, with new and even endangered species being spotted. 
  • Improved mental health: Studies have shown access to green space reduces stress and anxiety, lowers the risk of depression and helps with overall physical and mental wellbeing. Being more connected to nature also helps people engage more with eco-friendly behaviours.  We’ve taken a curious look at some case studies from around the world which show just how incredible urban greening can be…...
  • Medellín, Colombia......In 2016, due to rising concern over increasing temperatures and air pollution, Medellín launched the ‘Corredores Verdes’ (green corridors) 3-year programme. The $16.3 million project aimed to build 30 green corridors around the city, connecting streets, vertical gardens, parks, and the surrounding hills. This involved planting 8,800 trees and 90,000 plants. The corridors were designed to be as natural as possible, with canopies, mid-level, and low-level planting. They used carefully selected species of plants, for example the mango tree (Mangifera indica) chosen for its ability to absorb pollution, and other species chosen for wildlife.  By 2019, research showed that average air temperature had gone from 31.6°c to 27.1°c, and average surface temperatures had dropped a staggering 10°, from 40.5°c to 30.2°c. As a result, Medellín was awarded the prestigious Ashden Award, recognising the success of the project which has achieved far more than its original aims. Beyond the significant reduction in temperature and improvement in air quality, the green corridors have resulted in a reduction in CO2, increased biodiversity, and a 35% increase in people choosing to cycle.  The project has continued to grow since 2019, with the public voting for further investment in green projects. By 2021, a total of 880,000 trees and 2.5 million plants had been introduced , and Medellín now has around 4 million m2 of green space. 
  • Milan, Italy ........Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest) apartment complex, built a decade ago, was one of the first architecture projects to place urban reforestation at the very heart of the design. Architect Stefano Boeri designed the buildings as a “home for trees that also houses humans and birds”. The buildings, which include 400 flats and an 11-storey office block, are completely covered by an incredible 21,000 trees, shrubs, and plants. The planting, installed on the building’s specially designed balconies, provides the equivalent of 30,000 m2 of woodland in just 3,000 m2 of surface. The success of this amazing design has since inspired many other urban reforestation buildings around the world, from Cancun, to Sydney to Los Angeles.....and there's - read on     https://curious.earth/blog/green-cities/                           Twenty-seven Skyscrapers from the Future including Green Buildings........    https://ca.pinterest.com/pin/377176537554594799/