The term “rewilding” usually refers to the rejuvenation of large rural areas. However, the latest trend is for cities to become greener, as both temperatures and urban populations increase around the world. Sydney is one of the cities that is now going wild.
As planes soar above Sydney, the iconic Harbour Bridge and Opera House are visible through the windows.
The city, with a population of over five million, is growing rapidly. Also increasingly visible are the green patches in the concrete jungle. Forests and vegetation are gaining ground as new parks are built and trees planted.
Rewilding is not a new concept—it started in the 1970s and refers to ecological restoration to increase biodiversity and restore natural processes. It involves large areas of land and seas that are brought back with human help. Projects are taking place all over the world—including many parts of Europe—thanks to the likes of the Rewilding Europe Foundation, which is busy rewilding huge areas from Portugal in the south to Lapland in the north.
Facing an increasing population and temperatures, Sydney’s greening helps cool the city while making it more pleasant for its inhabitants. (Photo: Abril Felman)
Why urban rewilding is critical as cities grow
Recently, however, the focus has been on the world’s cities—to no coincidence, as more and more people continue moving into them. Already today, more than half of the global population has moved into urban areas and by 2050, it is estimated that seven out of ten people will live in a city.
Business as usual, like building concrete complexes and paving over green spaces, will further increase the average temperature in cities, while reducing the availability of clean water and air for residents. Billions of people depend on these rapid changes. And it looks like it is happening, at least in some of the world’s major cities.
Trees, parks and urban wetlands bring a host of benefits for our modern societies. Trees don’t just provide shade and coolness. The vegetation, along with wetlands, also acts as a sponge when it rains and prevents flooding. What’s more, in times of widespread mental ill-health, parks and restoration act as the perfect medicine.
(Photo: Mark Metcalfe)
Sydney leads with community greening programs
One such example is the community greening programs set up by the Sydney Botanic Gardens. Participants report in surveys that they feel significantly better mentally and that the programs have a positive impact on the community. Participants work together to create gardens and other green spaces in different parts of Sydney. The programs focus on the healing properties of gardening, expanding the city’s green spaces while empowering individuals—who often come from more disadvantaged areas—thereby strengthening ties between participants and the community.
“The programs have a direct impact on mental and physical health,” says Phil Pettitt, Community Greening Manager at the Sydney Botanic Gardens.
Overall, a green wave can be seen sweeping across Sydney, which has decided to cover 40% of the city with greenery by 2050, up from the current 33%. Thousands of new trees will be planted, and up to 60 parks and recreation areas will be created or expanded.
The battle for land in urban greening efforts
Karen Sweeney, Sydney’s Urban Forest Manager, is leading the greening of the city. According to her, expanding greenery is a top priority. However, as in most big cities, there is a tug-of-war between different interests for the few open spaces left. That’s why it’s important to think outside the box—for example, in terms of elevation.
“More and more private property owners, planners and architects want to create green spaces on rooftops, which in turn attract insects and wildlife,” she says.
Choosing the right native tree species is another challenge, as the climate warms and many previously planted trees have died.
“We need to consider what the climate will be like in the future, and which tree species will thrive there.”
Sydney Park Urban Wetlands—wetlands for people and wildlife (Photo: Will Jones)
Cooling Western Sydney with urban forests
Karen Sweeney says the shade provided by trees can reduce average temperatures by as much as 10%. Socio-economically deprived areas, such as Western Sydney, are often densely built-up and concrete-heavy. During the summer, temperatures can reach the 40s in these areas. Therefore, there is a strong focus on planting trees in these hot spots, where the need to reduce temperatures is at its greatest.
Sydney also has old industrial land that, when developed, will always have some parkland and other green spaces. Nowadays, developers are not allowed to construct new buildings without including greenery next to them. According to Karen Sweeney, Sydney has taken the lead when it comes to its greening targets:
“Now other cities are looking to us to follow in their footsteps.”
5 Examples of Greening Cities
🇸🇬 Singapore
Singapore is on many lists as one of the world’s greenest cities. In addition to clean water and air, the city is investing heavily in green spaces, with one million trees to be planted by 2030. At the same time, more and more waste is being recycled, schools are becoming carbon neutral, and the sun-rich nation is investing heavily in solar panels.
🇬🇧 London
The UK is not exactly top of the class when it comes to preserving the country’s forests, which have been neglected throughout history. London is aiming to improve on this poor record through its London Environment Strategy, which aims to cover half of the city with green space by 2050, creating parks and gardens, cleaning up rivers and reintroducing native species.
🇨🇴 Medellín
Medellín wants to clean up its dirty reputation as Colombia’s cocaine capital through a new sustainability focus. The city is now known as Latin America’s “eco city” or “green city.” Green “lungs” and buildings have become the new trend in Medellín, with architects and designers competing to see who can come up with the best sustainability and green building concepts. Even older buildings are being covered in greenery in many places as the new trend takes root.
🇨🇳 Harbin
Harbin, located in northeast China’s Heilongjiang province, is at the forefront of sustainability. The city, which receives large amounts of rainfall during the summer months, has a wetland in the city center to harvest the water, which is then filtered and used in the city. The wetland has become a base for ecosystem services in the area and an important recreational space for residents.
🇺🇸 San Francisco
The city—and California—has long been at the forefront of environmental efforts, with San Francisco aiming to be carbon neutral by 2045. One important area is “rewilding,” through the restoration of wetlands and, more recently, the construction of green corridors that increase biodiversity. Around a quarter of the city’s surface will be covered with greenery by 2040.
Lead Photo: Will Jones / City of Sydney
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