Status, Potentials and Constraints of Green Infrastructure of Malaysia： Case Study of Kuala Lumpur City

1 INTRODUCTION1.1 Importance of Green AreasAs countries worldwide move toward developingnations, there is a change in education level, employmentand income pattern of their people, which result in higherpurchasing power, better mobility and more free time.With an increase in urbanization as well as rapiddevelopment of infrastructure throughout the countriesthe people are in the transition of changing their lifestyleto modern society.In this urban modern society recreation is becomingincr…

Status, Potentials and Constraints of Green Infrastructure of Malaysia: Case Study of Kuala Lumpur City

Green infrastructure is classic public goods which can be utilized by everybody simultaneously atany time of the day. Green infrastructure which is the interconnected system of green spaces that conservesnatural ecosystem values and functions, sustains clean air and water, not only provide a pleasant and naturalenvironment but also contribute to improving quality of life in urban areas. In other words green infrastructureis the communitys natural life support system and the ecological framework needed for environmental andeconomic sustainability in urban areas. Within this context, this paper offers an overview of green infrastructuredevelopment in Malaysia, its status, constraint, potential and future directions. The case study of KualaLumpur city, which is one of the fastest growing cities in the country, highlights the scenario of urban areasdevelopment in Malaysia. This includes the role played by the government agencies and non-governmentorganizations in developing and promoting forest areas as public parks. The provisions of recreational andeducational facilities in the parks as well as the protection measures of the resources undertaken by relevantauthorities are also discussed. This paper also highlights the response of the public to the opportunities beingprovided in these areas for recreation and education purposes.