Green Infrastructure in Urban Environments
Autumn is the season for planting. It’s the season for us gardeners to get stuck in and achieve as many planting projects as possible. As the planet continues to warm due to climate change, extreme weather events, such as the ones experienced over the last few weeks, are set to become more frequent. This means that both individuals and whole cities must plan accordingly in order to mitigate the risks of climate change. This includes improving infrastructure to withstand extreme weather, creating green spaces and adapting our gardens to absorb excess water, and implementing policies that reduce the number of greenhouse gases emitted.
With the recent flooding events in Auckland, we want to bring your attention to the importance of Green infrastructure in your home garden, and in and around our city. The importance of planning for climate change will only increase as the planet continues to warm. We must be proactive in our planning and take the necessary steps to reduce our vulnerability to extreme weather events. By investing in resilient infrastructure, mindful landscaping in our home garden, creating green spaces and implementing policies to reduce emissions, Auckland can ensure that its citizens are safe and its economy remains strong in the face of climate change.
An increasingly important factor in the development of urban environments is Green infrastructure as it provides a range of benefits that improve the quality of life for us city dwellers. Green infrastructure is defined as any type of green space, such as parks, gardens and greenways, that are designed to capture, store and filter stormwater, reduce air pollution, provide habitat for wildlife and increase recreational opportunities. This type of infrastructure combats the effects of climate change and provides a healthier, more sustainable environment for city residents. These sorts of areas can also be created in your home garden, with some well-thought-out landscaping.
Green infrastructure is essential for managing stormwater runoff, which, as we have seen in the past few weeks, is a major problem in Auckland’s urban environments. By capturing and storing stormwater, green infrastructure can reduce flooding, erosion and water pollution. It can also help reduce air pollution by providing shade and reducing the ‘heat island’ effect.
The ‘heat island’ effect is a phenomenon that occurs when urban areas experience higher temperatures than surrounding rural areas. This is because cities contain more heat-absorbing materials, such as concrete and asphalt, which absorb and retain heat from the sun. This heat is then released into the atmosphere, resulting in higher temperatures in the city, compared with the surrounding rural areas. Additionally, cities tend to have more air pollution, which traps heat and further contributes to this effect. As a result, cities are often significantly warmer than the surrounding rural areas, leading to higher energy costs and health risks for city residents.
Green infrastructure in Auckland city would not only help with all of the aforementioned points but also would help to provide a habitat for plants and animals and maintain biodiversity in urban areas. Green spaces have been proven to have a calming effect on people in cities, reducing stress levels and improving mental health. These can be places where one can just sit and eat one’s lunch on a break, but also could provide a source of food (food gardens and fruit trees) and recreational opportunities, such as walking and biking trails, playgrounds and sports fields.
Some of you may have heard of the ‘Spongy City’ concept - written about in The Spinoff by Timothy Welsh (you can read the whole article here). This concept is an innovative approach to urban development to create a more sustainable and resilient urban environment. It is based on the idea that cities should be designed to absorb, store, and reuse water, energy and other resources, in order to reduce the strain on the environment and improve the quality of life for citizens.
Managing our stormwater is an important part of protecting our environment and keeping our communities safe. Stormwater runoff is a major source of water pollution and can cause flooding, erosion and other damage to our natural resources. To effectively manage stormwater, we must have a comprehensive plan that includes strategies, such as green infrastructure, stormwater management systems and best management practices. By implementing these strategies, we can ensure that our stormwater is managed responsibly.
Just as in our city, preventing flooding in our gardens is an important task that needs to be taken seriously. To ensure the health and longevity of your plants, one of the most effective things to do is to create a drainage system. This can be done by digging trenches around the perimeter of your garden and filling them with gravel or rocks. This will allow excess water to drain away from the garden, rather than pooling in the soil and potentially causing flooding. Additionally, you can create raised beds in your garden, which will help to direct water away from the plants. If you live in an area with heavy rainfall, it is also important to ensure that your gutters and downspouts are clear and free of debris, so that they can effectively divert water away from the garden. By taking these steps, you can help prevent flooding in your garden and keep your plants healthy.
The importance of green infrastructure in our properties and urban environments cannot be understated. It has the potential to transform cities into healthier, more liveable places for all. It also helps to promote sustainability, by reducing the amount of energy used and the amount of waste produced. Ultimately, more green infrastructure would help to create a more liveable and enjoyable environment for Aucklanders and should be a priority for urban planners and developers, especially after the recent flooding events.
