We built cities for centuries, creating some of the loudest habitats on the planet. Then, we still chose them over anything else.
We always find our way back to the city, even if the pollution levels rise continuously and the temperatures are typically 2-3C warmer. Cities can shape our behavior and future, so that’s why we need to support them.
We need to find solutions to developing more functional and sustainable cities. A garden could be everything we’ll need.
Here is what you need to know.
Plants Will Save the Cities
Previous studies showed how green infrastructure, including trees, gardens, and wetlands, can offer the best solutions to the problems met by urban development.
How green infrastructure works?
Plants let the city sweat a lot. Vegetation can reduce the temperature of a city by 1C to 9C, and that’s not all.
Leaves can also slow down raindrops, while roots let rain infiltrate the ground. All of this can highly reduce surface runoff.Â
Plant-based Solutions Are the Best
Adopting a green infrastructure is now vital to urban planning in most cities. Naturalizing parks, planting trees and bushes, and restoring wetlands, are only a few ways of promoting green infrastructure.
However, as intriguing as that could be, there’s a drawback.
According to recent research, much of the urban greenspace is found in privately owned gardens. That means governments can’t fully decide what green solution to apply, leaving it up to people to make the right decisions.
Start Gardening For Your Community
You know what they say, “your neighbour’s lawn is always greener,” but in this case, everybody wins.
So, maybe you have an overgrown shrubbery. That’s fine because your little green habitat offers better support for arthropods and other animals than a perfectly mowed green lawn. The reason?
It can highly reduce heat and water infiltration!
Deciding to go green and support your community should be mandatory. You can start by breaking up the sealed surfaces, such as asphalt or concrete, and plant some vegetation.Â