By Sayani Karmakar
Introduction:
The environment is the fundamental source of all possible existence on Earth. However, over the recent years, the environment has been exploited excessively. For this behavior environmental conditions are becoming worse day by day. Pollution of air, water and land, mining, industrialization, modern urbanization, deforestation, release of chemical effluents are some of the major factors that cause the gradual deterioration of the environment. Human beings are an integral part of the environment and hold a huge responsibility to upkeep the living conditions for their own sake and for the sake of all the inhabitants of the planet, including plants and animals. It is necessary to conserve the environment in order to protect our present to future.
Major ways to help the environment are reducing, reusing, and recycling. People can save water, minimize unnecessary travel, option for renewable energy resources, reduce food wastage, avoid toxic chemicals, add organic farming.
India is the most populated country in the world, with a population of 1.5 billion people. Currently it facing challenges due to high growth of urbanization and climate change. Urban Centers are a key driver of climate change; and while being the prime emitter of Green House Gases, they are also vulnerable to the impacts of climate changes. The major effects of urbanization on the environment are an increase in temperature and the carbon dioxide.
The Ministry of Urban Affairs and Employment published the Guidelines for Greening of Urban Areas and Landscaping in 2000 as ‘urban green space’. These guidelines were based on the Guide on Plant Materials for Landscaping in India, published by TCPO in 1980.
What is urban green space?
The greenspaces in the city are natural and semi natural areas that are the indicators of urban sustainability. These spaces impart physical, social, environmental, economic, and planning-related benefits to human society. It also improves the physical, mental and social well-being of the people.
public greenspaces such as public parks, gardens, green rooftop, squares, cemeteries, woodlands, and natural areas and areas of landscape conservation set within the limits of the urban fabric. It plays an important role in the overall development of the city.
Health benefits of urban green space:
Green spaces are a recreation or conservation that are covered in vegetation like grass, trees, and plants. They vary in size, ranging from cozy neighborhood parks to vast national forests, and can be discovered in both urban and rural environments. In towns and cities, this can look like woodlands, parks and gardens, road side plantation, landscaping and design, urban green infrastructure including urban forestry, Playground, sports field as well as infrastructure elements like plant walls and green roofs.
Spending time in green spaces offer several mental health benefits such as stress reduction, improved mood, better sleep, better physical activity. Green spaces are not only beneficial to people but also effective absorbing of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Green space is considered as the lungs of the city. It has immense health benefits mainly for elderly people. Regular physical activity in green space considerably reduces health risk of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, paralysis, diabetes. Besides, it facilitates social interactions and promotes the sense of community among the citizens, which is very important for health and wellbeing of people, especially for elderly, because they predominantly suffer from the social isolation problem.
“It is a beautiful place for walk and relax. I and my wife regularly came to get some fresh air and wellbeing, especially at this point of age. For me, a walk in the park each day lowers my stress, reduce blood pressure and mostly the social gather helps to build relation with others”. Said by a retired govt employee.
“I used to think I didn’t have time to take breaks. But now, I’ve realized that those 20 minutes in the park actually make me more productive. I am felling more energetic.”-An IT engineer.
Research say’s being close to nature increases cognitive abilities and attention spans of children, and fosters their creative thought process, problem-solving skills and self-discipline. Children that spend more time outdoors working with soil and plants are more sensitive towards their surroundings and develop a sense of belonging and appreciation of the environment as they grow up.
“My children have always loved going to the park. There is something about the carefree nature of Rima’s face at the peak of the swing, Manu’s thrill coming off the slide, I just felt joy in my heart as a parent. They walk around and explore like each item is theirs as they go from seesaw to slide to playground”. Said by Abhilasha, who is the mother of both children.
Government initiatives:
The Indian Government has taken various measures with a view of protecting the environment and preserving it for our future generations. The Smart Cities Mission is a plan by the Indian government launched on June 15,2015. It focusses on the development of playgrounds, parks, open gyms, and other recreational spaces, to improve the quality of life in cities and towns across the country.
The Urban Regional Development Plans Formulation and Implementation (URDPFI) guidelines, 2014 recommend 10 to 12 sq.mt. of open space per person.
Under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), developed ‘Green spaces and parks’ where around 2,058 parks have been developed covering around 4,061 acres.
Why sustainability is important for development:
Today urbanization is given utmost importance for development. But on the other side the ecosystem is affected adversely. Which, in return causes threat to human as diseases like cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes, and mental and neurological disorders in alarming number. Urban green areas offer great opportunities for positive changes and the sustainable development of our cities. Public green spaces that are accessible for walking, cycling, playing and other outdoor activities can improve safe mobility and access to basic services for women, older adults and children, as well as low-income population groups, thus improving health equity. Incorporating public health priorities into public-space development provides such a co-benefit approach for urban areas. Taking a health-sensitive approach to green public-space planning offers the potential to achieve the greatest number of co-benefits. Thus, govt will take more initiatives and policies to maintain urban lives. Creating a path to development that is viable and good for both present and future generation.
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