There are numerous benefits that green spaces bring to the environment, and it is one of the reasons AFEI advocates for a lot of them in our various communities, especially in urban areas where industries take the space meant for forest covers. Any open area, largely covered by vegetation and used directly or indirectly, is green space. Green spaces may be used for active or passive recreation or mainly to protect the environment [1]. Examples of green spaces include parks, gardens, forests, wetlands, allotments, and trees [2]. As part of AfEI’s activities of promoting environmental sustenance through the provision of public education on current ecological issues, this article will highlight some of the environmental benefits of green spaces.

Climate change and its associated problems, which continue to dominate the global debate, are mitigated by the availability of many green spaces [3]. Recently, AFEI had a tree-planting programme and education on climate change in some schools. The speakers identified green spaces as one of the measures to combat climate change. Several researchers have backed this claim. For instance, Sherer, 2006 found that the leaf surface of trees and other vegetation plays a transpiration function that drops the temperature and increases humidity. The existence of quality green spaces helps to reduce heat in the environment [4]. By increasing the reflection of solar radiation from the land surface and evapotranspiration, urban green spaces help to cool down temperatures and, as a result, modify the climate in these areas [5]. Alexandri & Jones (2008) discovered that green spaces in urban areas help mitigate their high temperatures and reduce the effect of heat islands (heat trapped in built-up areas). Green spaces act as coolers and regulators of air and temperature exchange, thereby improving the climate [6]. Additionally, trees provide shade in a hot desert climate [7]

Air pollution is largely considered a key concern, especially in urban areas, due to the industrial activities in these areas [5]. According to Manlan (2003), rapid industrialisation has resulted in several toxic gases in the air around the urban area [8]. Carbon monoxide, Ammonia, Sulphur Dioxide, Oxides of Nitrogen and Chlorine, among others, are some of these gases [9]. The presence of many urban trees aids in the interception of these pollutants, lowering the rate of urban air pollution [3]. Several researchers have observed that green spaces in urban areas improve the air quality in those regions, helping to avoid the costs associated with pollution [5], [9]. Apart from toxic gases, dust is one of the air pollutants [8]. However, vegetation, especially trees, can effectively hold up, filtrate, and absorb dust [10]. Trees have strong crowns, and their leaves are covered in hairs and excretive greases, allowing them actively trap dust [8]. Several researchers have found that green spaces positively impact mitigating air pollution levels and carbon sequestration [5], [8], [9], [11].

Further, green spaces provide environmental benefits such as flood control and protection for water supply and groundwater recharge areas [11]. They also enhance water quality [12]. Green spaces are a more effective and less expensive way to manage stormwater runoff than building systems of concrete sewers and drainage ditches [4]. In other words, green spaces conserve soil and water [8].

References

[1] (World Health Organization) WHO, ‘PREVENTING DISEASE THROUGH HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS’, Sep. 2019. Accessed: Apr. 04, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241565196
[2] A. Sangwan, A. Saraswat, N. Kumar, S. Pipralia, and A. Kumar, ‘Urban Green Spaces Prospects and Retrospect’s’, Urban Green Spaces [Working Title], Mar. 2022, doi: 10.5772/INTECHOPEN.102857.
[3] C. Adjei Mensah, ‘SUSTAINING URBAN GREEN SPACES IN AFRICA: A CASE STUDY OF KUMASI METROPOLIS, GHANA’, University of Birmingham, 2015. Accessed: May 28, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://etheses.bham.ac.uk/id/eprint/6122/1/AdjeiMensah15PhD.pdf
[4] P. M. Sherer, ‘The Benefits of Parks: Why America Needs More City Parks and Open Space’, 2006. [Online]. Available: www.tpl.org
[5] C. Konijnendijk van den Bosch, M. van den Bosch, A. Nielsen, and S. Maruthaveeran, Benefits of Urban Parks A systematic review – A Report for IFPRA. 2013.
[6] C. Kottmeier, C. Biegert, and U. Corsmeier, ‘Effects of Urban Land Use on Surface Temperature in Berlin: Case Study’, J Urban Plan Dev, vol. 133, no. 2, pp. 128–137, Jun. 2007, doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9488(2007)133:2(128).
[7] Municipality of Swakopmund, ‘Parks and Gardens – Municipality of Swakopmund’, Municipality of Swakopmund, 2022. https://swakopmun.com/economic-development-services-department/parks-gardens/ (accessed May 28, 2022).
[8] Y. Manlan, ‘Sustainable analysis of urban green space system based on GIS’, International Institute for Geo-information Science and Earth Observation, Enschede-Netherland, 2003. Accessed: May 30, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://webapps.itc.utwente.nl/librarywww/papers_2003/msc/upla/yang_manlun.pdf
[9] M. Baker et al., ‘The economic benefits of parks, trails, and conserved open spaces in Beaufort County, South Carolina’, Jan. 2018. Accessed: May 31, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.tpl.org/sites/default/files/files_upload/The%20economic%20benefits%20of%20Beaufort%20County%20-%20Full%20report.pdf
[10] E. Gies, ‘The Health Benefits of Parks How Parks Help Keep Americans and Their Communities Fit and Healthy’, 2006, Accessed: May 31, 2022. [Online]. Available: www.tpl.org
[11] S. C. Enger, ‘Planning for Parks, Recreation, and Open Space in Your Community’, Washington DC, Feb. 2005. Accessed: May 30, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://rco.wa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/PlanningforParksOpenSpace.pdf
[12] Eastern Kentucky University, ‘Importance Of Parks And Recreation,’ Eastern Kentucky University, Recreation And Park Administration |, 2022. https://recreation.eku.edu/importance-parks-and-recreation (accessed May 31, 2022).
[13] M. J. Nieuwenhuijsen, ‘Why More Green Space Is Essential for Cities – Blog – ISGLOBAL’. https://www.isglobal.org/en/healthisglobal/-/custom-blog-portlet/why-more-green-space-is-essential-for-cities/4735173/0 (accessed Aug. 26, 2022).

 

By: Rosemond Akosua Nyamedor, (AfEI)