Chairman of the National Parks Commission, John Caesar said that the aim of the programme, which was officially launched last week in the Botanical Gardens, is to not only think of the forest and the benefits it offers but to look at the urban environment and what it can do in terms of benefits.
He noted that this programme is a case where science has married policies, GINA stated.
He pointed out that the recognition of the impact of emissions on health has encouraged a proposal to forge an alliance with the National Parks Commission and the Mayor and City Council to plant trees in the city and more specifically those that can survive floods.
Caesar noted that concrete reduces the hydro-quality of the soil while trees provide shade for homes, as well as a drop in temperature. This lessens the use of fans and air conditioning units, thereby effectively reducing the cost of electricity.
And while encouraging the return to home gardening, he pointed out that the country is putting up its forest for the Reduction of Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) and the contribution of the National Parks is to recognize that vegetation for urban areas is good for health.
According to GINA, Caesar stated that more vegetation in the city can act like the protection offered by the forest, noting that the more vegetation that is available the bigger the benefit to the population.
And the National Parks Commission aims to engage critical agencies as support and change of the mindset is needed. General Manager of the National Parks Commission, Yolanda Vasconcellos in opening remarks said that the Commission recognizes the urban areas as having potential to be a clean, green city leading in ecological sustainability.
She said too that the UF&BCP will address the loss of biodiversity in the urban areas of the country by recommending and supporting the conservation and rehabilitation of the landscape.
This will include identifying areas of high conservation significance and raising awareness and understanding of the importance of biodiversity, she added.
Vasconcellos also disclosed that the National Parks Commission proposes an UF&BCP to complement and support the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), the aim of which is to deepen understanding among citizens and provide awareness on its benefits, GINA reported.
