Living green has a essential role to diddle in rise livable cities by contributing to societal , cultural , environmental , strong-arm , and genial health . outstanding researchers from around the globe lay out their finding on the wellness benefit of urban greening at the ‘ sustenance Green , Liveable Cities ’ Research Symposium on 4th-5th February 2024 at Expo 2023 Doha , Qatar .
Organized by the International Association of Horticultural Producers ( AIPH ) in collaborationism with Cities & Health and Expo 2023 Doha Qatar , the symposium presented inquiry under three root word that demonstrate the contribution of ‘ inhabit green ’ to goodly and resilient city : Social and Cultural Health , Health and Wellbeing , and Environmental Health .
The opening session welcome loudspeaker system from Doha . Ruben Munoz of the Gulf Organisation for Research and Development ( GORD ) presented the development and execution of the Global Sustainability Assessment System ( GSAS ) . Ruben explained how this is the first integrated and execution - based system in the Middle East and North Africa ( MENA ) region , design for assessing and rating buildings and infrastructure for their sustainability impacts . Of gamey interest to the audience was the decimal point that 42 % of the weight of the assessment criteria of GSAS is on preserving and enhancing flora .
piddle source and management is a major challenge for many countries around the human beings , including Qatar . Presenting traditional knowledge and practices towards sustainability , Dr Deema Almasri , Senior Policy Associate for Earthna , spoke about Earthna ’s H2O studies . Dr Almasri excuse : “ The only fresh water seed Qatar has is groundwater , which is currently being eat at an immense rate - almost five times the rate of its recharge . ”
To find root to this take , Earthna has studied ancestral noesis and traditional practice of water direction in desiccate regions around the world to measure their scalability , efficiency , and suitableness within the surround . Dr Almasri commented : “ We need to pink into non - established water source methods to maintain the water counterbalance and insure a sustainable future in a country that is mood change resilient . ”
In a standardized vein , Dr Bruno Marques , President of the International Federation of Landscape Architects ( IFLA ) , highlight the signification of traditional Māori greenery practices and how they have been implemented in young projects in New Zealand .
recoup traditional practice of indigenous peoples is lively not just to those community , but to the environments they occupy . Dr Marques said : “ With a history of colonization and increase globalisation , many autochthonal cultures have find a decline in the quality of their natural ecosystems . ”
Working in collaboration with Māori tribes , Torrens Terrace was developed in Wellington , New Zealand . This garden , in the heart of the city , arise plant used in Māori ceremonies . The benefits of this project are multilayered . In addition to being a alterative environment , the garden allows people of all culture to learn more about the Māori hoi polloi . Dr Marques added : “ For Māori , who have become garbled from their ethnic etymon , it offers opportunity for Indigenous chemical group to hug their cultural individuality . ”
Another object lesson of how serious-minded and designed greenery can affect the societal environment was presented by Dr Gayle Souter - Brown , Special Envoy from IFLA to the International Society of Urban Health . The case subject area focused on a school vacation spot in London , UK , where there was very niggling greenery . “ This community was at the time one of the most socioeconomically deprived in Europe , ” Dr Souter - Brown explained . “ They had all form of social problems , and it was n’t safe to be on the streets after 3 autopsy . ”
The redesign of the park included musical and wildlife sensory garden , a space for outdoor Education Department , the use of lifelike materials in the play equipment , and eatable yield trees . “ Not only did the child do better in schoolhouse , but the ripple effectuate out across the community was unplumbed . Now , the area attracts investing , and there is a wait list for children to attend the school . ”
Expo 2022 Floriade Almere in the Netherlands applied a similar understanding of the benefit of greenery on a big scale . Judith van der Poel , Director of Niek Roozen Landscape , presented the World Horticultural Expo as an example of how industrial plant can be used to improve the lives of citizen .
Over the past few old age , the average temperature in the Netherlands has increased significantly . This has a multitude of prejudicious effects , include the heightened peril of death . Van der Poel said : “ Over four pct of deaths in European urban center during summer are due to the ‘ heat - island - essence . ’ Extra tree in the city would head off almost one - third of those end . ”
tree diagram canopy declare oneself shade and helps to cool the surrounding domain . Research in this discipline inform the planting of Tree at the Floriade 2022 web site in Almere . New Tree were planted alongside existing tree to make vibrant , green areas around each plot . Visitors to the Expo used the nicety provided to relax .
Covering four sessions over two days , the interview enjoyed presentations about the costs and benefits of vertical greenery , river positive feedback , and urban air quality . They were inspired at how live green leave emotionally and physically restorative environments that also support biodiversity .
For more information : AIPHwww.aiph.org
