Urban Forestry as a Vehicle for Healthy and Sustainable Development

1 INTRODUCTIONGLOBALURBANISATIONUrbanisation is a worldwide phenomenon; the WorldResource Institute (2001) estimated that in 2025 morethan 50% of the African and Asian populations wouldbe living in urban areas. In Central and South Americathese figures will be between 75% and 85%. Urbanareas in developing countries will account fornearly 90% of the projected world populationincrease of 2.700 million people between 1995 and2030 (Figure 1) .Managing urban population change will b…

Urban Forestry as a Vehiclefor Healthy and Sustainable Development

Urban forestry has been defined as the art, science and technology of managing trees and forestresources in and around urban community ecosystems for the physiological, sociological, economic andaesthetic benefits trees provide. The importance of urban forestry has received limited attention in manypoor countries as it is often percieved as being associated with beautification projects, which are considereda luxury benefiting only the wealthier part of the population. However, urban forestry may have a number ofenvironmental, economic and socio-cultural values, which will also benefit poorer segments of city populations.Even in poorer countries, planning for urban trees and forests is a good investment, as these areas will bedemanded when income levels increase. Once everything is allocated to other construction or infrastructure,it may be very difficult to create new green areas unless these are planned for.The Danish Centre for Forest, Landscape and Planning has been leading actor in the development of UrbanForestry during the last decade. EUFORIC (European Urban Forestry Research and Information Centre),COST Action E12 Urban Forests and Trees and E39 Forests, Trees and Human Health and Wellbeing areall examples of activities initiated and coordinated by the Danish centre. It has also developed urban forestryand urban greening as a concept for environment and development aid projects in Eastern Europe anddeveloping countries in Southeast Asia and Southern Africa. Over the coming years, the main challange willbe to ensure that the expansion of the green infrastructure in the worlds urban areas is implemented withinthe framework of sustainability and human health and well-being, without the use of a technology inimical toman and nature and with as few chemical aids as possible.