Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1446087
10 COMMERCIAL 27.1.2022 IN a world increasingly aware of the im- pact of climate change, adding greenery to urban areas to mitigate its effects has quickly moved from fashionable to essen- tial. Albeit welcome and necessary, isolated natural areas are not enough to combat urban pollution, regulate temperatures or sustain Malta's unique biodiversity. Indeed, a clear system of Green Infra- structure (GI) is now crucial to link these larger natural zones together, blurring the boundaries between the human and the ecological worlds. "Green infrastructure is a network de- signed to link semi-natural and purposely created spaces, so as to support natural processes and reap the benefits not only to our environmental quality but our own habitat too – our hometowns. Green in- frastructure can help reverse our environ- mental impact," explains Michelle Borg, Unit Manager at the PA's Green and Blue Development, which seeks to promote sustainability within spatial planning. "GI creates corridors that make room for nature 'to travel' into our urban areas and connect us to the countryside. Iso- lated green spaces need these corridors to create a flow from one to the other, al- lowing living organisms to move between them unhindered. What is witnessed here is the micro equivalent of the great wildebeest migration that annually takes place across the major river between Tan- zania and Kenya. By compartmentalising nature, squeezed solely into single pock- ets – and not providing a bridge between them through GI – we risk losing species that are part of our natural heritage even to the detriment of global biodiversity." Meanwhile, as Malta's towns and cities continue to grow and develop, disregard- ing GI as a vital part of the process may also have serious long-term consequenc- es for humans and the lifestyle to which we have become accustomed. "Eliminating greenery in favour of built- up areas means less natural drainage, resulting in flooding during the rainy seasons and potentially causing damage to property. It could also increase the payload on Malta's electricity network, particularly during summer when people have little choice but to rely on air condi- tioners to stay cool," continues Ms Borg. "ese are only some of the economic ef- fects of a lack of GI. Studies show that we may also feel the impact of reduced access to nature on our mental wellbeing." In fact, GI provides multiple ecological, social, health and economic benefits. Al- Green Infrastructure in Malta is vital to create natural corridors through the country's urban areas. Michelle Borg from Malta's Planning Authority (PA) explains how – and why – these green lungs can be created GOING GREEN What is green infrastructure in Malta?