Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1450614
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 13 FEBRUARY 2022 14 COMMERCIAL Going Green: What is Green Infrastructure 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. IN a world increasingly aware of the impact of climate change, adding greenery to urban areas to mitigate its effects has quick- ly moved from fashionable to essential. Albeit welcome and necessary, isolated natural areas are not enough to combat urban pollu- tion, regulate temperatures or sustain Malta's unique biodi- versity. Indeed, a clear system of Green Infrastructure (GI) is now crucial to link these larger natural zones together, blurring the boundaries between the hu- man and the ecological worlds. "Green infrastructure is a net- work designed to link semi-natu- ral and purposely created spaces, so as to support natural process- es and reap the benefits not only to our environmental quality but our own habitat too – our home- towns. Green infrastructure can help reverse our environmental 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' in- to our urban areas and connect us to the countryside. Isolated green spaces need these corri- dors to create a flow from one to the other, allowing living or- ganisms 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 compart- mentalising nature, squeezed solely into single pockets – and not providing a bridge between them through GI – we risk los- ing species that are part of our natural heritage even to the det- riment of global biodiversity." Meanwhile, as Malta's towns and cities continue to grow and develop, disregarding GI as a vital part of the process may al- so have serious long-term con- sequences for humans and the lifestyle to which we have be- come accustomed. "Eliminating greenery in favour of built-up areas means less natural drain- age, 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 conditioners to stay cool," continues Ms Borg. "These are only some of the economic effects of a lack of GI. Studies show that we may also feel the impact of reduced access to nature on our mental wellbe- ing." In fact, GI provides multi- ple ecological, social, health and economic benefits. Although the initial financial cost may be higher when compared to traditional grey infrastructure such as pipes, concrete seawalls or road systems, introducing nature-based solutions in the mix for infrastructure provision could pay economic dividends in the long-term. Greater access to greenery in urban environments offers more choice for how peo- ple can escape the summer heat, provide space for interaction, while also encouraging them to enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits of walking instead of travelling everywhere by car. Yet, effective GI demands a mindset change from people, as much as it does in project design. "As a nation, it is vital to under- stand the importance of contrib- uting to these green corridors as individuals. By installing green roofs or walls, tending a private garden or even adding pot plants to a balcony, with some thought, we can collectively preserve our local natural habitat and bio-