I salute the inclusion of …

I salute the inclusion of 'green infrastructure' in the definition of 'infrastructure assets'!

For far too long have municipalities ignored the benefits and services provided by street trees, city parks, and other green areas (including road verges, median strips, flower pots, etc.). Or perhaps most people took these services for granted and did not consider the impact that municipal legislation could have on them.

As a tree biologist myself, and living in a big city I am familiar with the constraints of successfully establishing trees in such environments. Yet, I see that they can add tremendous value to a house and a neighborhood, both monetary and societal value. No need for advanced enquiry: everyone knows intrinsically that the view of a tall and majestic tree can up the morale, and that a tree's shade is a welcome relief on a hot summer day.

It is very important nowadays to include green areas since the very first steps of urban design and development. The positive impacts are far-reaching, whereas the costs for not caring are incremental. It is thus fundamental to treat green infrastructure at the same priority level as other, more traditional infrastructure. It should not be an afterthought. Greening is way more than aesthetics.

There is now one well-know study confirming the positive impact city trees can have on human health: Donovan GH, Butry DT, Michael YL, Prestemon JP, Liebhold AM, Gatziolis D, Mao MY, 2013. "The relationship between trees and human health: evidence from the spread of the emerald ash borer". Am J Prev Med 44(2):139-45. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2012.09.066. URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1353829210001656

I thank you for your time in reading this, and above all for incorporating this concept in your legislation.

Best regards,

SImon

[Original Comment ID: 210032]