Why is greening the most popular scenario applied in urban regenreration projects?

Green urban regeneration projectsJune 2014

What are the benefits that we can obtain from the environment?

”The benefits provided by nature to society and the economy are termed ecosystem services. The scope of benefits derived from

the environment demonstrated just how rudimentary our dependence on the well-being of the environment is. ”

– J. Kronenberg , Urban ecosystem services, University of Lodz, 2012

Ecosystem services Enviroment provides our society with the number of benefits, i.e.:

Supporting (habitat-related)• Soil formation • Photosynthesis and primary production • Biogeochemical cycle (cycling of nitrogen,

carbon, sulfur, phosphorus and others)• Hydrological cycle

Provisioning• Food (wild plant and animal products, honey, herbs) • Water • Medicines • Durable materials (wood, natural fibers) • Fuels • Industrial products (oils, wax, rubber, perfumes,

dyes) • Model for the production of analogous synthetic

substances • Genetic resources

Regulating• Climate regulation • Waste absorption • Purification of soil, air and water • Erosion control • Transfer of biological material (e.g.

pollination) • Protection against UV radiation • Attenuation of extreme weather events • Disease control

Cultural• Recreation, tourism, aesthetic and

educational functions • Cultural, intellectual, spiritual

inspiration • Tranquility, calm, relaxation • Social relations, sense of place

Ecosystem servicesApart from the benefits mentioned in the previous slide, there are also economical ones:

• Establishment of new companies in neighbourhood;• Creation of new jobs;• Increase of the value of buildings situated in neighbourhood.

Example - LondonThe Creekside Regeneration Programme

•Government-funded programme to rejuvenate an economically deprived area of Deptford in the London Borough’s of Lewisham and Greenwich;•The work comprised the creation of green roofs as mitigation for wildlife habitat;•It was one of the incentives for creation of London Green Roof Policy.

Effects of green roof creation:•Creation of accessile roof space for inhabitants – new green space•Mitigation of human pressure and compensation;•Biodiversity •Increasing value of the buildings.

Sources

• J. Kronenberg , Urban ecosystem services,, University of Lodz, 2012,

• Lectures of Green Urban Regeneration Project• http://livingroofs.org/londongreen-roof-policy• Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005;• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Park