Blue-Green Infrastructure & Urban Forestry Flashcards
blue infrastructure (water systems)
absorbent landscape
rain gardens
bioswales
dry wells
sumps
fish ladders
green infrastructure (plant systems)
urban forest
parks, golf courses
urban agriculture
green walls
green roofs
on-slab landscaping
hedgerows
CSA
urban farms
community gardens
urban wild area
beehives
wildlife overpasses/bridges
grey infrastructure (buildings/impermeable surfaces)
buildings
roads and bridges
sidewalks
concrete, asphalt surfaces
Goals of Blue-Green Infrastructure
sustainability (livibility, reduction of water entering sewer, reduction of heating/cooling costs)
resilience (recovery from storms, improve air quality, absorb pollutants)
urban biodiversity (food, habitat, birds, pollinators, reduce pest outbreaks)
climate change adaption (urban temp, GG, trees produce oxygen)
Challenges of Blue-Green Infrastructure
physical (dense tree canopies, damage of grey infrastructure
biological (allergens, human-wildlife conflicts)
chemical (toxicity, above 30C temp = volatile organic compounds)
social (safety hazards, injury, crime)
environmental sustainability (irrigation of walls
financial (maintenance, clean up, damage, failures)
fire (increase of urban fires)
types of ecosystems
agroecosystems
forest ecosystems
grassland ecosystems
aquatic ecosystems
supporting services
primary production – e.g. carbohydrate production through photosynthesis
nutrient cycling
soil formation
habitat and food wildlife
provisioning services
food – livestock, fish, crops, wild food, spices
raw materials
energy
genetic resources
medicine
ornamental
regulating services
carbon sequestration
prey population
decomposition
water and air purification
pest and disease control
flood protection
cultural services
cultural – use in books, film, painting, folklore, national symbols
spiritual and historical
recreational
science and education
therapy
benefits of trees in urban forest
decrease pollution
temperature cooling
sun protection
wind protection
buffers noise
carbon sequestration
habitat and food source
improve building heating and cooling efficiencies
mitigate stormwater runoff
environmental psychology benefits
decreased crime
cultural
historical
risks of trees in urban forest
increased operational costs – pruning, leaf cleanup, storm damage response
property damage – tree failure, roots heaving surfaces
pest issues – aphid honeydew, squirrels etc.
personal safety – tree failure
increase concentration of pollution – tree tunnels
increased crime – when creating hidden areas
increased bird strikes on windows
blocked commercial site lines
interfere with power lines
