Vasant Vihar, Delhi, below.
Research shows
that vigorous urban trees keep people healthier, cool cities in summer, warm
homes in winter, help kids learn better, decrease car accident rates, raise
real estate values, and decrease crime dramatically.
Trees are long-term investments and provide greater benefits to things like property value, energy and water use reduction as well as air pollution reduction.
In fact, a study of 10 megacities last year (Mumbai & Beijing among them) concluded that the tree cover in the cities provided about 500 million dollars worth of decreased air pollution. More millions were added by CO2 sequestration, storm-water remediation and savings of heating and cooling costs.
On average, the study saw a potential of nearly doubling the tree cover (and hence the benefits) in the mega cities, over available lands such as parking lots, etc.
The idea that we should not invest in watering and planting our trees and shrubs during a drought is a misconception. Lawns can use three times as much water over the same area as trees.
On left : Bhiwadi, Rajasthan
As the plants use water in photosynthesis it is released from the leaves in a process called transpiration, which cools the surrounding air. In semi-arid climates, like ours, this cooling can be 80% dependent on water redistribution by trees.
Urban landscapes are made of materials that absorb sunlight and heat more than soils or planted landscapes, making cities hotter than the surrounding landscape. Scientists call this “the heat island effect”. Tree cover can cut the temperature by about 5 degrees C in heat islands.
Planting and maintaining trees to help us cope with heat and drought is essential for the long-term health of our cities and towns.
On Left : Bhiwadi, Rajasthan
Planted areas provide the ideal permeable surface for runoff prevention and optimal recharging of aquifers. Plants — especially trees — play a critical role in the water cycle. This is the process by which water circulates between the earth’s bodies of water, atmosphere and land. The loss of plants from a regional landscape can result in a warmer, drier climate and desertification.
Working as a team with the world’s oceans, trees form half of Earth’s rain cycle. Trees maintain the rain cycle thousands of miles from the closest oceans, keeping our planet hydrated from coast to coast.
Because of trees’ huge impact on the amount of water surrounding them, deserts can easily form if trees are not present, according to this article here. Where trees do not exist, water does not exist.
Right : Taj Westend hotel, Bangalore
This poignant article from the Hindu newspaper talks of how we are emptying our groundwater to water lawns.. it is simply unacceptable in india’s climate and water situation. It suggests that we focus instead on planting trees, shrubs and bedding plants.. I would draw inspiration from Taj Westend at Bangalore for the kind of planting I would do in residential, institutional and commercial complexes.
It is true we often use stp treated water for our lawns but maybe we should think of treating it to a higher standard and reusing for bathing and washing clothes atleast, besides flushing and cleaning of floors and utensils.
Trees are long-term investments and provide greater benefits to things like property value, energy and water use reduction as well as air pollution reduction.
In fact, a study of 10 megacities last year (Mumbai & Beijing among them) concluded that the tree cover in the cities provided about 500 million dollars worth of decreased air pollution. More millions were added by CO2 sequestration, storm-water remediation and savings of heating and cooling costs.
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| Manoribel, Mumbai |
The idea that we should not invest in watering and planting our trees and shrubs during a drought is a misconception. Lawns can use three times as much water over the same area as trees.
As the plants use water in photosynthesis it is released from the leaves in a process called transpiration, which cools the surrounding air. In semi-arid climates, like ours, this cooling can be 80% dependent on water redistribution by trees.
Urban landscapes are made of materials that absorb sunlight and heat more than soils or planted landscapes, making cities hotter than the surrounding landscape. Scientists call this “the heat island effect”. Tree cover can cut the temperature by about 5 degrees C in heat islands.
Planting and maintaining trees to help us cope with heat and drought is essential for the long-term health of our cities and towns.
Planted areas provide the ideal permeable surface for runoff prevention and optimal recharging of aquifers. Plants — especially trees — play a critical role in the water cycle. This is the process by which water circulates between the earth’s bodies of water, atmosphere and land. The loss of plants from a regional landscape can result in a warmer, drier climate and desertification.
Working as a team with the world’s oceans, trees form half of Earth’s rain cycle. Trees maintain the rain cycle thousands of miles from the closest oceans, keeping our planet hydrated from coast to coast.
Because of trees’ huge impact on the amount of water surrounding them, deserts can easily form if trees are not present, according to this article here. Where trees do not exist, water does not exist.
On Right : Manoribel, Mumbai
In addition to water-related benefits, plants and trees are important tools for carbon sequestration, improve property and community aesthetics and can have significant stress-lowering effects on humans.
In addition to water-related benefits, plants and trees are important tools for carbon sequestration, improve property and community aesthetics and can have significant stress-lowering effects on humans.
This poignant article from the Hindu newspaper talks of how we are emptying our groundwater to water lawns.. it is simply unacceptable in india’s climate and water situation. It suggests that we focus instead on planting trees, shrubs and bedding plants.. I would draw inspiration from Taj Westend at Bangalore for the kind of planting I would do in residential, institutional and commercial complexes.
It is true we often use stp treated water for our lawns but maybe we should think of treating it to a higher standard and reusing for bathing and washing clothes atleast, besides flushing and cleaning of floors and utensils.
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