Authors: Timea Cseriova & Joost Nussy
Would you like to live in a concrete jungle, surrounded by residential blocks, without green surroundings? Probably not. The desire of all of us is to live in pleasant neighborhoods where we can take a walk in the park, meet friends for a picnic, and maybe engage in sports. So, green areas are not just about attractiveness but about the social function they fulfill in cities.
At the same time, we must not forget their important role in climate regulation. Green areas can also play a crucial role in another important element – strengthening social cohesion. The social need for green spaces is increasing in both smaller towns and larger urban centers, and residents often try to pressure local community representatives to prioritize the creation of new park areas instead of constructing new shopping or business centers.
Half of Berlin is covered by green spaces
In the past year, Timea lived in Berlin, where she truly had the opportunity to admire the extensive parks and forests on the outskirts of the city. This proved to be especially important during the long winter months when Germany experienced strict lockdown measures due to the COVID-19 epidemic, and people had limited travel opportunities. In Berlin, for example, “mother nature” covers almost half of the city, which can serve as an excellent example for other European capitals.
Similarly, in the city of Groningen in the Netherlands, where Joost comes from, green spaces are at the center of attention. This fact is especially important because most of the city lies below sea level, and greenery is crucial for mitigating negative environmental impacts. While rising sea levels may not be as significant of an issue for Idrija, climate change still affects this area. Adaptation to changing climates has become a necessity due to drier summers and winters with more precipitation.
Idrija’s main sqaure would benefit from some greenery
Idrija is fortunate to be surrounded by green hills on all sides, and it’s encouraging that there are many gardens within the town. However, we noticed some areas where there is still room for improvement. For example, the Town Square in the center of Idrija caught our attention, and during the summer, at 36°C, it felt like a significant heat island. Greening this area could be a solution that successfully reduces heat pressure and makes the area more pleasant. We would recommend Idrija to take steps towards greening in the strict city center.
While greening initiatives may be perceived as costly investments since they occupy space, which is not abundant in Idrija, nestled among the hills, we would reconsider this space. Space is a much more complex concept, not solely defined by its economic value. We must consider the needs of the population and the benefits that green areas bring. In recent decades, Idrija’s successful transformation from a mining town into one of the national centers of the automotive industry has proven that change is possible – even in a green direction!
Članek je nastal v okviru projekta “Idrijska krajina – navdih iz preteklosti za trajnostno ustvarjanje mladih”, ki ga je finančno podprlo Ministrstvo za okolje in prostor Republike Slovenije.
