Laura Gatti - Enhancing City Resilience by Green Infrastructure Improvement - Prezantimi 03

Summary

The video script discusses strategies for achieving environmental, social, and economic sustainability in Tirana through green infrastructure. It highlights the importance of integrating ecosystem services for climate change adaptation and mitigation, emphasizing the social, economic, health, and aesthetic benefits. The script also covers various green infrastructure practices, such as biodiversity enhancement, stormwater management, and urban forestry, to create a healthier urban environment and enhance resilience to climate change impacts.

Takeaways

• 🌿 Green infrastructure is essential for achieving environmental, social, and economic sustainability in urban areas like Tirana.
• 🌳 Green infrastructure uses natural processes and vegetation to create healthier urban environments and has gained importance in regional and local planning.
• 🌡️ Addressing climate change through green infrastructure involves both adaptation and mitigation strategies to enhance a city's resilience.
• 🔄 Green infrastructure can act as a delivery mechanism for ecosystem services, emphasizing the integration of economic, environmental, and social benefits.
• 🏞️ The absence of an integrated strategy for urban build and green areas, along with low connectivity, are identified as weaknesses that need addressing.
• 🌳 Green infrastructure practices are diverse and can be tailored to local conditions, providing habitats, flood protection, cleaner air, and water.
• 🌱 Biodiversity enhancement through green infrastructure is crucial for the built environment, with practices like green roofs, walls, and increased canopy cover.
• 🌡️ Urban green spaces significantly improve the health and well-being of residents, especially in combating the urban heat island effect.
• 💧 Green infrastructure is a cost-effective approach to managing stormwater, reducing water pollution, and preventing erosion and flooding.
• 🌳 Choosing the right tree species for urban forestry can have a significant impact on reducing surface temperatures and improving air quality.
• 🏗️ Green infrastructure practices can increase permeability, reduce water consumption, and enhance landscape management sustainability.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the discussion in the provided transcript?

The main focus is on strategies for achieving environmental, social, and economic sustainability in Tirana, with an emphasis on green infrastructure as a planning tool for regional and local levels.

What are green infrastructures and why have they gained importance recently?

Green infrastructures are systems that use vegetation, soils, and natural processes to create healthier urban environments. They have gained importance as they provide a range of ecosystem services and are crucial for addressing climate change adaptation and mitigation.

What are the main weaknesses of the city's current urban build and green areas?

The main weaknesses are the absence of an integrated strategy for urban build and green areas, and the low connectivity between the city and green areas.

How can green infrastructure act as a delivery mechanism for ecosystem services?

Green infrastructure can act as a delivery mechanism by providing various ecosystem services such as habitat provision, flood protection, cleaner air and water, and enhancing social, economic, health, and visual aesthetic benefits.

What are some of the solutions identified for addressing the city's weaknesses through ecosystem services regulation?

The solutions include anticipating climate change challenges, enhancing the city's resilience, and focusing on social, economic, health, and visual aesthetic benefits through specific measures related to green infrastructure.

What is the underlying principle of green infrastructure regarding land use?

The underlying principle is that the same area of land can offer multiple benefits from its ecosystem if it is in a healthy state, meaning that green infrastructure can provide high levels of return over time and be cost-effective.

How does green infrastructure benefit biodiversity in urban areas?

Green infrastructure, such as parks, gardens, green roofs, and green walls, can contribute to biodiversity by providing habitats and enhancing the built environment for various species.

What are some of the green infrastructure practices mentioned in the transcript?

Some practices include biodiversity enhancement, building biophilic buildings, managing stormwater runoff, reducing water consumption, conserving soil, and improving public space quality.

How can green infrastructure help in managing wet weather impacts and provide community benefits?

Green infrastructure, such as rain gardens, can reduce and treat stormwater at its source while delivering environmental, social, and economic benefits, thus enhancing the resilience of natural systems and the built environment.

What is the significance of choosing the right tree species in urban forestry for mitigating the urban heat island effect?

Different tree species have diverging attributes that can significantly influence sea surface temperature. Choosing species with high leaf area index and transpiration can have a cooling effect and help mitigate the urban heat island effect.

How can green infrastructure practices contribute to the sustainability of urban landscapes?

Green infrastructure practices can increase permeability, reduce water consumption, and promote sustainable landscape management by using plants in an ecophysiological approach, respecting natural soil, and improving the quality of public spaces.

Outlines

00:00

🌿 Green Infrastructure for Urban Sustainability

The first paragraph introduces the concept of green infrastructure as a strategy for achieving environmental, social, and economic sustainability in Tirana. It emphasizes the use of vegetation and natural processes to create a healthier urban environment and discusses the importance of integrating ecological, economic, and social benefits, especially in the context of climate change. The paragraph highlights the need for an integrated strategy for urban and green areas, addressing the city's weaknesses such as low connectivity and the absence of a comprehensive plan. It also mentions the potential of green infrastructure to deliver ecosystem services, enhance resilience, and provide various benefits such as improved health, aesthetics, and job opportunities, comparing it to traditional 'gray' infrastructure.

05:02

🌱 Enhancing Biodiversity and Urban Ecosystems

The second paragraph delves into the role of green infrastructure in enhancing biodiversity and improving the quality of life in urban environments. It discusses the impact of agricultural practices on biodiversity and suggests conservative methods like no-till farming to increase soil organisms and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The paragraph also explores the use of green walls, hanging gardens, and green roofs as modern approaches to increase plant accessibility and combat urban heat island effects. It underscores the importance of selecting the right tree species for effective cooling and pollution removal, and how green infrastructure can be a cost-effective and resilient solution for managing wet weather impacts while providing community benefits.

10:03

🏙️ Urban Resilience and Green Infrastructure Strategies

The third paragraph focuses on the importance of green infrastructure in enhancing the resilience of natural systems and the built environment against climate change impacts. It explains how green infrastructure practices, such as rain gardens and permeable pavements, can manage water and create healthier urban environments by mimicking natural processes. The paragraph also touches on the need for a strategic approach to urban soil remediation and management, emphasizing the preservation of natural soil and the development of strategies for urban saw manufacturing. It concludes by discussing the opportunities presented by population growth in the Tirana metropolitan area for improving the quality of life and enhancing green infrastructures, suggesting a strategic network of green spaces as a key discussion point for the afternoon.

Keywords

💡Green Infrastructure

Green infrastructure refers to a system of natural and semi-natural areas that provide various ecosystem services, such as habitat provision, cleaner air and water, and flood protection. In the video's context, it is a planning tool that has gained importance at regional and local levels for its ability to integrate economic, environmental, and social benefits, particularly in the face of climate change. The script mentions green infrastructure as a delivery mechanism for ecosystem services and as a way to address urban and environmental challenges.

💡Ecosystem Services

Ecosystem services are the benefits that humans obtain from ecosystems, such as pollination, climate regulation, and water purification. The video emphasizes the importance of green infrastructure in providing a range of these services, highlighting its role in enhancing the resilience of urban environments to climate change and improving the quality of life for residents.

💡Sustainability

Sustainability, in the context of the video, encompasses environmental, social, and economic aspects. It is the overarching goal of the strategies discussed, aiming for a balanced approach to development that meets current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The script talks about the achievement of sustainability in the new Tirana through the use of green infrastructure.

💡Climate Change Mitigation

Climate change mitigation involves actions to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases or enhance the sinks that absorb them. The video script discusses how green infrastructure can act as a tool for climate change mitigation by, for example, increasing vegetation cover and managing stormwater runoff, which can help to reduce urban heat island effects and improve air quality.

💡Biodiversity

Biodiversity is the variety of life in all its forms and interactions, and it is a key concept in the video. The script mentions enhancing biodiversity through green infrastructure practices such as green roofs, walls, and urban forestry, which can provide habitats and improve the ecological health of urban areas.

💡Connectivity

Connectivity in the script refers to the linkage between different green spaces and natural areas, which is crucial for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services. The video discusses the importance of an integrated strategy for urban and green areas to ensure high connectivity, allowing for the movement of species and the flow of ecosystem services.

💡Stormwater Management

Stormwater management is the practice of controlling and reducing the runoff of rainwater from urban areas. The video script describes how green infrastructure, such as rain gardens, can be used for stormwater management, treating runoff at its source and reducing the volume of water entering sewer systems, which can lead to less pollution and flooding.

💡Heat Island Effect

The urban heat island effect is a phenomenon where urban areas are significantly warmer than their rural surroundings due to human activities and the concentration of heat-absorbing surfaces. The script mentions that green infrastructure, such as planting trees and increasing green spaces, can help mitigate this effect by providing shade and reducing surface temperatures.

💡Public Space Quality

Public space quality refers to the design, maintenance, and overall appeal of public areas, which contribute to the well-being and satisfaction of residents. The video script discusses the importance of improving public space quality through green infrastructure, such as enhancing the aesthetic value and ecological functions of urban landscapes.

💡Resilience

Resilience in the context of the video is the ability of urban environments to withstand and recover from shocks and stresses, such as climate change impacts. The script highlights green infrastructure as a means to enhance resilience by providing a range of ecosystem services that help cities adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change.

💡Agricultural Practices

Agricultural practices are the methods and techniques used in farming. The video script points out that certain agricultural practices, such as no-till farming and the use of buffer strips, can have a positive impact on biodiversity and reduce pollution in water bodies, thus contributing to the overall sustainability of urban environments.

Highlights

Green infrastructure is increasingly recognized as a planning tool for regional and local levels that provides ecosystem services.

Green infrastructure can enhance the city's resilience to social, economic, health, and visual aesthetic benefits.

The absence of an integrated strategy for urban build and green areas is a main weakness of the city.

Green infrastructure can act as a delivery mechanism for ecosystem services and address climate change challenges.

Investments in healthy ecosystems are characterized by high levels of return over time and provide job opportunities.

Green infrastructure can be a cost-effective alternative or complement to gray infrastructure and intensive land-use change.

Green infrastructure practices vary and include biodiversity enhancement, stormwater management, and public space quality improvement.

Parks, gardens, green roofs, and green walls contribute to biodiversity and climate change mitigation.

Agricultural practices can significantly impact biodiversity, with minimum tillage or no tillage practices being beneficial.

Green infrastructure can reduce the anthropogenic impact on the urban landscape and improve aesthetic value.

Vegetated roofs and walls can increase plant accessibility and act as pathways for biodiversity.

Planting big trees is an effective measure to combat the urban heat island effect and improve human health.

Green infrastructure is a cost-effective approach to managing wet weather impacts and enhancing community benefits.

Green infrastructure practices can reduce water pollution, erosion, and flooding in urban areas.

Natural and constructed infrastructure can enhance water management capabilities and reduce vulnerabilities to flooding.

Green infrastructure can increase permeability, reduce water consumption, and promote sustainable landscape management.

Preserving natural soil and developing urban soil remediation strategies are important for green infrastructure.

Improving the quality of public space through design, construction, and management is fundamental for enhancing liveability.

The population increase in the Tirana metropolitan area presents opportunities for improving the quality of life and green infrastructure.

Transcripts

so today we will start to talking about

some strategies useful for the

achievement of environmental social and

economical sustainability of the new

Tirana okay this instruments that use

vegetation of soils and natural process

to create healthier urban environment

are generally recognized as green

infrastructures green infrastructure

extra things green infrastructure has

recently gained importance as a planning

tool of the regional and local levels

while it provides a range of ecosystem

services greater attention is needed on

integrating the economic environmental

and social benefits produce particularly

in the context of climate change

adoption and mitigation is not a new

policy tool button is meant to further

develop new tools for the common

objectives connectivity biodiversity and

climate change response to fragmentation

and connectivity without forgetting the

related social aspects next hour by

green infrastructure could act as a

delivery mechanism ecosystem services

the absence of an integrated strategy

for the urban build and green areas and

the low connectivity with the Intel and

green areas were the main weakness of

the city the solutions identified by

means of ecosystem services regulation

function address the related measures

anticipate the climate change challenges

and enhance the city's resilience social

economic health and visual aesthetic

benefits could have a particular

emphasis depending of the specific

identified measure next green

infrastructure so is addressing the

spatial structure of natural and semi

natural areas but also over

environmental features which enable

citizen to benefit from its multiple

services the underlying principle of

green infrastructure is

that the same area of land can

frequently offer multiple benefits of

its ecosystem if it's a ecosystem isn't

in a healthy state meaningful slaughter

investment are generally characterized

by a high level of return over time

provide job opportunities and can be a

cost-effective alternative or be

complementary to gray infrastructure and

intensive land-use change the strategy

sells the interest of both people and

NATO next door at the city or county

scale green infrastructure is a part or

a patchwork of natural areas that

provides habitats flood protection

cleaner air and cleaner water at the

neighborhood or side scale it could be

stormwater management system but mimic

nature so happens to water next

different type of green infrastructure

practices are more suitable for specific

situation and landscape reflecting very

treatment levels and provide unique

benefits all of them are part of the

following strategic objectives

connectivity of habitats providing

better linkages between existing and

proposed a green infrastructure

multifunctional e multifunctionality

tailoring various use such as

agriculture access recreation and

biodiversity to the local situation

extended axis battle axes for everyone

and landscaper enhancement the strategy

shall reflect the distinctive pattern of

the Albanian landscape above interim of

its net run in historical and cultural

landscape next the universe of green

infrastructure practices varies between

a regulated entity but some common

categories have a merger we try to

summarize seven main tools next

biodiversity enhancement build bio

Philip buildings increase the canopy

manage stormwater runoff reduce the

water consumption conserve blend the

soil improve public space quality green

infrastructure so next things from the

point of view our biodiversity green

infrastructure is one of the only one

approach to enhancing biodiversity the

built environment properly designed

parks arvin gardens green roofs and

green walls can all contribute to

biodiversity and to take all climate

change green spaces in city do

significantly enhance health and well

bag of urban residents it also improves

social equation on the quality of living

environment from the other hand it means

move toward different landscape topology

different management schedules and

different image of the urban landscape

communication program with the aim to

improve the population involvement

should be carried out and this is what

we could discuss this afternoon we

shouldn't forget the important role on

biodiversity of the agriculture some

changes in agricultural techniques could

have a great impact on biodiversity in

special way so in biodiversity

conservative agricultural practices like

minimum tillage or no tillage

dramatically increases number and

variety of soil organisms avoid the soil

ruptor make with plough finger reduce

the amount of greenhouses gases like

carbon dioxide releasing the atmosphere

and buffer strips along the river say

irrigation Channel give a great

contribution reducing pollution in water

by directing take or inactivation

building covered by vegetative

instructor elements could be designed to

reduce the anthropogenic impact on the

home urban landscape and these can also

serve as aesthetic value for humans next

techniques for the greenery of buildings

are green walls hanging gardens and

green roofs both extensive and intensive

the concept of vegetated roof and walls

is not modern we story also the

Babylonian Hanging Gardens dating back

to once in history it is however a

modern concept to use the gatech

instructor for the express purpose of

conservation and decreasing biodiversity

loss effect combining vegetated walls

and roofs can slightly increase the

floor and found our accessibility with

the plants lamb substrate acting as

pathways this is similar to the use of

green corridors to increase connectivity

on the larger landscape scale target

species in this case our inverter

brightest birth or plants increase the

canopy planting big trees is certainly

the more effective measure to fight

again against the heat island effect

next higher temperatures negatively

affect human health and well-being

particularly in period of heat during

summer months the predicted climate

change will increase intensity and

frequency of heat waves induce amplify

biophysical load several studies have

proved mitigation effects of urban

forestry on air temperatures humidity or

sulfur temperatures but different tree

species have diverging attributes

so the surface temperature on asphalt

areas of the tree shade are up to 15

degrees lower compared with the phone

full Sun expose help of alphas area

areas comparing the growth parameter

only leaf area index and transpiration

show a significant influence on sea

surface temperature and there's a

significant impact on pollutant removal

tool what does it mean this mean they

hire the leaf area index is and the

hiver the transpiration is the high very

cooling effects of the trees so we have

to be able to choose the right trees

next green infrastructure is also a

cost-effective resilient approach to

managing wet weather impacts that

provides many community benefits while

single purpose grace on water

infrastructure conventional pipe

drainage and water treatment system is

designed to move urban stormwater away

from the built environment green

infrastructure as like rain gardens next

reduce and treat stormwater as its

source while delivering environmental

social and economic benefits star some

water runoff is a major cause of water

pollution in urban areas when rain falls

on our rules streets and parking lots in

CT and cities and their suburbs the

water cannot soak into the ground as it

should next some water drains through

gutters stone sewers and other engineer

a collection system and is discharged

into there be water bodies the storm

water runoff carries trash bacteria

heavy metals and other pollutants from

the urban landscape higher flows

resulting from heavy rains also can

cause erosion and flooding in urban

streams

when rain falls in natural undeveloped

areas the water is absorbed and filter

by soil and plants green infrastructure

use vegetation soils and other elements

and practices to restore some of the

natural processes required to manage

water and create a healthier urban

environment next like like this there is

no one best fist approach next okay but

green infrastructure is increasingly

being recognized as an important tool

for enhances enhancing the resilience of

natural system and the built environment

next by identifying working towards

win-win solution Land Trust can help

communities plan management to promote

resilience systems but are able to

respond to current and future climate

change impacts next natural and

construct an infrastructure ranging from

conserved riparian buffers to rain

garden and permeable pavers can help

enhance on water management capabilities

in ways that reduce vulnerabilities to

flooding next pervious pavement allow

water to soak through paved areas such

as parking lot and urban forest canopy

associated with street trees and other

that you discover using green

infrastructure practices can have direct

impacts on as well increase in

permeability reduce water consumption

and I increase the sustainability in

landscape management it means increasing

our ability to use plant accorded with

ecophysiological approach and not only

aesthetical or custom approach okay and

this is a really important preserving

the natural soil means develop

strategies for urban saw

remediation and management and promote

existing soil manufacturing instead of

taking this resource from from

surrounding fields agricultural soil

shall stay where it lays because its aim

is to produce food and in general sense

improve the quality of the public space

means realized that the quality of the

design the care during construction

proper management of the public space

are the basis for acts of sexual then

respected the space to live okay and in

conclusion over the next year's the

population of the Tirana metropolitan

area is expected to increase this

increase in population can be seen as as

an opportunity for improving the quality

of life enjoyed by existing communities

the housing development so will put

pressure on the environment in terms of

habitat loss fragmentation and

disturbance but at the same time will

provide opportunities to enhance the

adjoining green infrastructures which

could link into a strategic network of

green spaces how to do with the green

instrum instrum infrastructure strategy

is what we want to discuss these

afternoon okay thanks