The Crucial Role of Urban Forests in Combating Climate Change
As the world continues to urbanize at a rapid pace, cities have become both engines of economic growth and major contributors to environmental degradation. Urban centers now account for more than 80% of global GDP, but this progress has come at a cost – negative impacts on public health, social equity, and the degradation of vital ecosystem services that cities and their residents depend on.
Urbanization, in its current unsustainable form, poses a grave threat to the future livability of cities. To counter these trends and future-proof their urban environments, city leaders must strike a delicate balance between economic progress and environmental protection. Nature-based solutions, such as urban forests, are increasingly recognized as key to achieving this balance by generating essential ecosystem services that support social, economic, and environmental development.
Urban forests – which include everything from street trees to urban woodlands – provide city leaders with a low-tech, high-impact solution that can contribute to sustainable urban development. By offering a diverse array of regulating, provisioning, supporting, and cultural ecosystem services, urban forests are a cost-effective, nature-based solution for tackling multiple urban challenges and transforming cities into more sustainable, resilient, and healthier places to live.
Hyderabad’s Pioneering Approach to Urban Forestry
One city that has embraced the transformative power of urban forests is Hyderabad, India. In recognition of its commitment to growing and maintaining its urban forest, Hyderabad was selected by the Arbor Day Foundation as a “Tree City of the World” in 2021 – the only city in India to receive this prestigious designation.
Hyderabad’s urban forests are maintained by the city’s flagship Telanganaku Haritha Haram program, which aims to develop the city’s forest blocks into urban forest parks. The State of Telangana, where Hyderabad is located, plans to develop 129 forest blocks into urban forest parks, covering an area of 150,000 acres within the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority territory.
This proactive and visionary approach to urban forestry has yielded impressive results. According to the Forest Survey of India 2021 report, Hyderabad witnessed a maximum increase in forest cover among all Indian megacities, and it also doubled its per capita forest cover from 4.3 to 8.2 square meters – far exceeding the World Health Organization’s recommended 9 square meters per person.
Enhancing Ecosystem Services through Sustainable Urban Forestry
Hyderabad’s urban forestry efforts have delivered a wide range of ecosystem services that are enhancing the city’s climate resilience and improving the quality of life for its residents.
Regulating Ecosystem Services
Urban forests in Hyderabad are providing critical regulating services, such as:
- Temperature Regulation: Trees and vegetation help reduce urban heat island effects, lowering air temperatures by up to 8°C and cutting the cost of air conditioning by up to 30%.
- Stormwater Management: Urban forests play a vital role in minimizing run-off and sediment loads, reducing the risk of flooding and erosion.
- Air Quality Improvement: Trees and plants filter air pollutants, improving respiratory health and reducing the burden of air pollution-related diseases.
Provisioning Ecosystem Services
While the provisioning services of Hyderabad’s urban forests are moderate compared to regulating services, the forests still provide important benefits, such as:
- Fuel and Timber: Urban forests supply some fuelwood and timber for local use, supporting community livelihoods.
- Bee Forage: The forests provide valuable forage for bees, contributing to urban pollination services.
Supporting Ecosystem Services
Hyderabad’s urban forests also deliver essential supporting services that underpin the long-term health and functioning of the urban ecosystem, including:
- Habitat Provision: The forests create valuable habitats for urban biodiversity, supporting a range of plant and animal species.
- Nutrient Cycling: Urban trees and vegetation play a role in cycling nutrients, maintaining soil fertility and ecosystem productivity.
Cultural Ecosystem Services
In addition to the tangible benefits, Hyderabad’s urban forests provide important cultural services that enhance the well-being and quality of life for residents, such as:
- Recreation and Relaxation: The forests offer valuable green spaces for residents to enjoy outdoor activities, exercise, and seek respite from the urban environment.
- Education and Research: The urban forests serve as living laboratories, supporting environmental education programs and facilitating scientific research.
Driving Community Engagement and Advocacy
Hyderabad’s success in urban forestry has been driven not only by strong government leadership but also by active community engagement and advocacy. The city has fostered a sense of ownership and stewardship among its residents, encouraging them to participate in tree-planting initiatives and the maintenance of urban forest parks.
To further incentivize community involvement, Hyderabad has pioneered innovative approaches, such as the “3-30-300 rule” – a guideline that encourages the creation of urban forest blocks with at least 3 tree species, 30% canopy cover, and 300 trees per hectare. This rule has helped align community interests with the city’s urban forestry goals, mobilizing grassroots support and resources.
Moreover, Hyderabad has attracted the attention of corporate sponsors and philanthropists, who have stepped up to adopt and develop urban forest blocks, contributing nearly 80 million INR (over $1 million USD) in 2021 alone. This public-private partnership model has further strengthened the city’s urban forestry initiatives, ensuring a sustainable flow of financial and technical resources.
Scaling Up Urban Forestry for Global Impact
Hyderabad’s success story demonstrates the transformative potential of sustainable urban forestry in enhancing ecosystem services, improving climate resilience, and fostering community engagement. As the world continues to urbanize, city leaders must recognize the crucial role that urban forests can play in creating livable, sustainable, and climate-resilient cities.
By following Hyderabad’s example and adapting its approaches to their local contexts, cities around the world can harness the power of urban forests to address a wide range of environmental, social, and economic challenges. This includes:
- Mitigating urban heat island effects and reducing energy costs
- Improving air quality and respiratory health
- Enhancing stormwater management and flood resilience
- Providing recreational and educational opportunities for residents
- Supporting urban biodiversity and ecosystem functioning
- Fostering community engagement and a sense of environmental stewardship
To realize the full potential of urban forests, city leaders must prioritize their development and maintenance, allocate sufficient resources, and create enabling policies that incentivize community participation and private sector involvement. By embracing the transformative power of urban forests, cities can build a more sustainable and resilient future for all.
