New Age Concrete Jungle

"Nature provides a free lunch, but only if we control our appetities"- William Ruckelshaus

                The above photo shows a green park located in Port of Spain. Yes, I know- quite a disparity for the concrete dominated city. In fact, few are aware of the existence of green spaces in the city, simply because they are minimal. The concrete dominance of the city tends to occur due to its economically-based nature which requires built-up physical infrastructure to facilitate its workers and production. As such, it can be deduced that there is an inverse relationship between the city’s development and the presence of city vegetation, as increasing numbers of people, buildings, paved streets and overall development causes a reduction in the presence of trees and green spaces. For most of us, the value of trees is often underestimated. However, we should all be concerned of their growing absence as the contributions that trees add to the city are undeniable and they, ultimately, benefit us all.

The amount and quality of trees within cities can influence its biological and physical urban environment. The prime benefit of trees is the provision of oxygen into and expulsion of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, being a carbon sink (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, 2014). This has far reaching impacts as it lowers air temperature, reduces air pollution and slows the rate of Global Warming. It was found that two healthy, mature trees could produce just about the required oxygen levels for a regular person each year (Wolf, 2006). Likewise, trees also moderate aspects of climate, including sunlight, wind and rain. Radiant energy from the sun is absorbed by the leaves of trees, in addition to large trees providing physical shade. Admit it- at some point, we’ve all hidden behind a tree to avoid sunlight in an attempt to feel cooler. According to the Kathy Wolf of the University of Washington (2006), trees of 25ft can reduce annual heating and cooling of a residence by an estimated 8-12%.

Moreover, trees affect wind speed and direction as they act as a windbreak (International Society of Arboriculture, 2009). Despite this, it is not unusual to hear locals unknowingly say something along the lines of “it breezy here because of the trees”.  Additionally, rainfall is absorbed, as well as deflected, by trees, reducing the impact on people or buildings. They also intercept water and allow raindrops to infiltrate the soil beneath, thereby reducing the incidence of flooding. This can be seen as largely beneficial to Port of Spain as flooding has been an ongoing problem being faced by city users. In addition to these, trees can also be seen as having an aesthetic value as they beautify its surroundings, while creating a relaxing and peaceful mood. This is reinforced by the findings of researchers which revealed that a life in the city poses to be more stressful. They also found that residents of typical concrete-jungle cities tend to be more prone to suffering from anxiety and depression, as compared to rural area residents (Derbyshire, 2011). As such, it is evident that the need for trees within cities goes beyond mere visual attraction, as it affects the physical, social and mental wellbeing of all city users.

References:

Derbyshire. 2011. "A rural life is better: Living in a concrete jungle is stressful and make you vulnerable to depression. Last modified June, 2011. Accessed April 11, 2014. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2006988/A-rural-life-better-Living-concrete-jungle-really-stressful-make-vulnerable-depression.html -

International Society of Arboriculture. 2009. "Benefits of Trees." Last modified 2009. Accessed April 11, 2014. http://www.treesaregood.com/treecare/tree_benefits.aspx.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation . 2014. "Trees: The Carbon Storage Experts." Last modified 2014. Accessed April 11, 2014. http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/47481.html.

Wolf, Kathy. 2006. "Urban Forest Values: Economic Benefits of Trees in Cities." Last modified 2006. Accessed April 11, 2014. http://www.naturewithin.info/Policy/EconBens-FS3.pdf.