International Forests Day: FAO Urges Investments in Urban Forests

TEMPO.CO, Rome - Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations says Tuesday, Marc 20, that investing in green spaces can help transform cities into more sustainable, resilient, healthy, equitable and pleasant places to live.

Cities can be great places to live if planned and managed well, but many urban developments cause environmental havoc - ultimately leading to problems such as high temperatures, flooding, and air pollution. The cost for citizens is deteriorating well-being. The costs for the planet include increased greenhouse gas emissions, the degradation of soils and waterways, according to the FAO forestry publication Unasylva, the latest issue of which is devoted to urban forestry in celebrating the International Day of Forests on March 21. 

"Well managed forests and trees in and around cities provide habitats, food and protection for many plants and animals, helping to maintain and increase biodiversity," said FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva in his video message on the occasion of the Day. He stressed the need "to join forces to protect forests and trees to make urban environments more sustainable".

More than half the world's population now lives in cities, and by 2050 almost 70 percent of the world will be urbanized. Although cities occupy only three percent of the Earth's surface, they consume 78 percent of energy and emit 60 percent of carbon dioxide.

Woodlands, forests and trees in a city and on its fringes perform a wide range of vital functions - such as storing carbon, removing air pollutants, assisting in food, energy and water security, restoring degraded soils and preventing drought and floods. In a medium-size city, for instance, urban trees can reduce the loss of soil by around 10,000 tons per year.

By shading and cooling the air, forests and trees in urban areas can reduce extreme temperatures and mitigate the effects of climate change. Indeed, trees properly placed around buildings can reduce air conditioning needs by 30 percent. In cold climates, by shielding homes from the wind, they can help save energy used for heating by 20-50 percent.

Urban and peri-urban forests can increase the resilience and quality of watersheds and water reservoirs by preventing erosion, limiting evapotranspiration and filtering pollutants. And planting fruit-bearing street trees can increase the availability of food within cities.

Many cities are already demonstrating their commitments to a more sustainable future and there are many excellent examples of green urban development, FAO stated in the press release received by Tempo today, March 21.

In 2012, Beijing initiated the largest afforestation program in its history. In suburban and peri-urban areas, most lands were afforested after moving low-end industries. Forests, which cover now more than 25 percent of the city plain - an increase of 42 percent - provide neighborhoods with more space for recreation.

FAO supports the adoption of urban forest solutions for cities with guidelines as well as technical and communication tools. In Niger, for example, FAO assisted the Government in elaborating a national policy for the management of green spaces in and around cities to protect the environment and mitigate the effects of climate change.

On 21 March, FAO will celebrate the International Forests Day with the theme "Forests and sustainable cities" at a special ceremony at FAO headquarters in Rome which will be attended by city administrators from Lima, Ljubljana, Philadelphia and Mantova.*)

TEMPO | FAO