Building Green Infrastructure - Term Paper Example

Gray and Grееn Infrаstruсturе: Adding Value to Our Natural Сарitаl Student Name Institutional Affiliation Date Grey and Green Infrastructure: Adding Value to Our Natural Capital Introduction Green infrastructure has evolved as a topic of worldwide significance for the last decade. Interest in such a topic of urban importance has brought up the need to dig deeper into the real importance and the negativities that are brought forth by such a terminology. Among the strategic points of inclusive approaches to the development of the community sustainably is this crucial subject. Its compositions are both the natural and artificial green spaces across the globe. Such a terminology has been conceptualized as an interlinked interconnection of “green space” that preserves the ideals of the ecosystems of nature and uses as well as the provision of related benefits to the human populace (Reddy, 2013, pp. 5). Green infrastructure is key for sustainable social and economic environments. The human population is naturally sensitive to the activities that tend to influence their sociological and economic well-being and therefore the return response to such changes is normally instant. The green infrastructure, as proposed by Frederick Law Olmsted is a more positively significant approach to environmental ecosystems and tends to affect the urban populations and other areas in transportation and other significant sectors of economic development. The paramount importance that green infrastructure plays counter to grey infrastructure steers the development of the economies. It offers flexibility to societies that have the urge to incorporate infrastructure to climate change. The following discussion focuses on the concept of green infrastructure and its implications on the current global community. Principles of Green Infrastructure The green infrastructural system is guided a set of defined conditions which have to be satisfied. Firstly, green infrastructure is used as a systematic approach to incorporating ecosystem services to the environment. The mainframe in green infrastructures is to improve the general state of the ecosystem through a series of useful practices. Secondly, it is multifunctional. This implies that it performs a multiplicity of functions simultaneously therefore establishing efficient services in planning urban centers and investments in development. Thirdly, green infrastructure is not limited to any boundaries but can span across different networks. Therefore, the boundary limitations do not affect such a practice as it cuts across the global ecosystem (Reddy, 2013, pp. 10). The above three principles reiterate the scope of green infrastructure as an approach to sustainable development of the ecosystems. Sustainable Development Factors Associated With Green Infrastructures Development in any societal framework is always the desire by most of its population. The major factors influencing development are the climatic and weather conditions, infrastructure, proper management of natural resources, as well as advanced technology. In order for sustainable development to be made a reality, environmental management and proper utilization of naturally available and local resources need to be given the upper hand in the strategic plan towards development. Proper utilization of natural resources ensures that the economic resources of a given nation are directed towards sustainability and realization of positive developments in the critical areas of the economies. Management of water sources and the establishment of alternative transport routes, conservation of energy and or establishment of alternative sources of energy help in sustenance of the needs and basic requirements of the population. The Benefits of Green Infrastructure in Concert with Grey Infrastructure Green infrastructure cannot be fully used as a substitute to Grey infrastructure but can instead be used in concert with the same in order to realize maximum ecological benefits in the long run. The concept of green infrastructure and its projects in general has been associated with a lot of positive beneficial results. Several studies conducted have indicated that the green infrastructure countered with the grey infrastructure has most positive implications to the environment. Such benefits are quantified at differing levels in dependence to the areas of interest (Gartner et al., 2013, 6). 1. Environmental Benefits The effects of green infrastructure on the environmental ecosystems are worth consideration. The environment is one of the most significant aspects of human existence and an improvement in the general state of the environment does humanity a lot of good. The benefits of green infrastructure on the environment are illustrated as follows. It helps in reduction flooding and erosion. Green infrastructure is important as it can take and incorporate water from storms that could pose a great danger to the soils and different terrains of the land. Such cases as floods and soil erosion which are brought forth by the impact of falling water tend to be minimized to have little effect by the green infrastructure (Reddy, 2013, pp. 16). Environmental pollution is curbed by the green infrastructure. The harmful substances that are released into the air and water surfaces pose a great danger to human and animal well-being. The green infrastructure is helpful in such incidences as it boosts the quality of the environment through removal of such disastrous pollutants from the atmosphere and water surfaces. Green infrastructure is an environmental beneficiary as it helps in the preservation and restoration of naturally existing ecosystems thus offering habitual places for natural plants and animals. The town heat island effect can be reduced as well as moderation of local climates and this contributes to more energy being conserved. Lastly, green infrastructure can moderate changes in the climate through reduction of “fossil fuel emissions” from cars, lowering the consumption of power by structures and carbon storage (Robbins, 2012, 17). 2. Social Benefits of the Green Infrastructure The social concept of green infrastructure is an important aspect for consideration as it deals with the resultant effects of such projects to the community at large. The following are the effects of green infrastructures to the society. To start with, green infrastructure can offer suitable places for massive gatherings, socialization and development of the communal drive. For instance a study conducted in the United Kingdom indicated that more people take rides on the green pathways that lead to towns. This shows how significant green infrastructure is in tuning the social life of a community and offering of alternative transport routes rather than highways which are more comfortable. Green infrastructure can act as an important source of production of local resources such as food, water and fibers (Marc, 2012, pp. 20). The role that green infrastructure plays in local productions is a significant apex for human development as this helps reduce the dependence of a nation on the imports and foreign aids from other countries in order to sustain its population. The water from green infrastructural projects can be used for both domestic use and for other leisure activities such as swimming. Furthermore, green infrastructure can steer healthy living through provision of recreational facilities and allowing people to enjoy the comfort of the environment by walking or doing other useful activities. In addition, the conditions of the environment such as the atmosphere, and quality of water can be enhanced and therefore their negative impacts on health of the general public can be minimized. Green infrastructures can boost the visual quality of the city and town developments. Such infrastructures can help people to link with nature through good outcomes in health, advanced performances in education and lessened cases of fierceness. The green infrastructures as well offer avenues for showcasing of personal artistic talents and prowess and cultures. As such, the skills and customs of people and different cultures are brought to public knowledge (Young, 2013, pp. 30). The above implications of the green infrastructures on the social life of communities signify the key role that such projects play in the ensuring of cultural preservation and expression of individual talents, offering nice parks for social activities and maintenance of good health statuses among other benefits. 3. The Economic Benefits of Green Infrastructures Every aspect and project is normally quantified in terms of its effects on the economic status of the affected population. The economic scope is one of the critical areas of human life and any aspect that tends to implicate on it is always treated with utmost measures and significance. In line to this, the green infrastructure is one of the economic factors of consideration. Measurement of its effects on the economic stability of any given community is therefore paramount. In order for green infrastructural projects to be implemented, personnel have to be employed in order to conduct the tasks. Green infrastructures therefore create employment opportunities in different sectors of the economy such as tourism and management of landscapes among others. This acts as a source of employment income to people and therefore the standards of living of the people and eventually raising the economic standards of a country (Templeton, 2012, pp. 20). Green infrastructure can increase the value of properties such as houses and land in general and therefore earning more income and revenue from the sale of such to the owners of such. The result is an increase in revenue income and an improvement in the living standards (Cho, 2012, 15). Furthermore, it can act as an attraction for tourists, habitants as well as investments to a society. Recent studies from Mexico city indicate that Chapultepec park attracts many visitors who come to enjoy several activities (David et al., 2013, pp. 30). These help in revenue generation and infrastructural developments in a given communal set- up and an eventual development in the long-run. The revenue earned can be used in national development. Green infrastructure can induce sales in retail stores as well as other economic activities in the business environments. This is an income generating source that will lead to improvement in the economic capabilities of people as well as boosting their living standards. Green infrastructures can help in reducing the costs of health, energy and grey infrastructure. The reduction in these costs will make available more resources for other purposeful uses (Beauchamp, 2013, 19). The more resources saved means a more positive move towards sustainable development as misuse of funds is minimized and more directed towards the realization of the sustainable development goals and objectives put forth. Challenges Involved in Green Infrastructural Projects Contrary to the fact that green infrastructure is a cost effective and multi-purposeful strategy for attaining suitable ecosystem goals, implementation of projects in green infrastructure is retorted by number of limitations. The main categories of the challenges in implementation are financial, technical among others. Firstly, the green infrastructural projects are faced with the problem of budgetary constraints. The limitation of resources available for such projects tends to limit the success of the outcome as opposed to the gray project that uses minimal resources. Secondly, the lack of adequate technical knowledge on the implementation of such projects proves to be a major challenge as well as inadequacy of information related to such projects. The lack of corporation among different networks is usually a setback on the success of projects in the green infrastructural scope. Poor communication between different communities can affect the success of the green infrastructural projects as it can create walls in obtaining support from the political systems. Legislation that May Support Green Infrastructural Constructions The urban managements and countries should set apart some proportion of their annual budgets for green infrastructural projects through the carbon savings legislation (Thomas, 2013, 50). Conclusion The use of natural resources and other landscapes to provide services to the urban population through green infrastructure is gaining increasing significance in the modern development world. Such a subject of public concern is significant in solving several human needs among the urban people. As shown in the discussion above, green infrastructural projects play a very significant role in the lives of humanity yet the same are being neglected and viewed as meaningless practices on the human environment. The positive significances that such projects tend to have on the environment, social and economic statuses of the urban population are the key indicators of the several successes that can be derived from them. Implementation of such projects is demeaned by budgetary as well as political constraints that slow down their success. The green infrastructural projects ought to be given utmost consideration by states and other political set-ups in order to attain sustainable development. Reference List Beauchamp P. & Adamowski, J. 2013. An Integrated Framework for the Development of Green Infrastructure: A Literature Review, European Journal of Sustainable Development (2013), 2, 3, 1-24 Cho, R. 2012. Building NYC’s Resilience to Climate Change with Green Infrastructure. State of the Planet blog, Earth Institute, Columbia University, New York. David C. R., Aicp, & Bunster-Ossa, F.I. 2013. Green Infrastructure: A Landscape Approach. American Planning Association. Gartner, T., Mulligan, J., Schmidt, R. & Gunn, J. 2013. Natural Infrastructure: Investing in Forested Landscapes for Source Water Protection in the United States. World Resources Institute. Marc B. G. et al. 2012. Interacting with Nature Improves Cognition and Affect for Individuals with Depression. Journal of Affective Disorders 140, no. 3: 300–305. Reddy, S.W. 2013. What Could Make Investing in Nature Catch On? Cool Green Science - The Nature Conservancy, June 23, 2013. Robbins, J. 2012. With Funding Tight, Cities Are Turning to Green Infrastructure. Yale360. Templeton, N., & Rouse, D. 2012. The Role of Tree Preservation Ordinances in Green Infrastructure. Zoning Practice, September Thomas M. P. Z. 2013. Environmental challenges of urbanization: A case study for open green space management Research, Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Management Vol. 2(4) Young, R. F. & McPherson, E.G. 2013. Governing metropolitan green infrastructure in the United States, Landscape & Urban Planning, 109: 67-75. Read More