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There is growing evidence of the psychological benefits of increasing biodiversity which needs to be harnessed if we are to shift away from this artificial interpretation of what nature should ‘look’ like.
Inspiration is at our fingertips. The Paris Greening Strategy includes hundreds of exciting initiatives to improve biodiversity and help reimagine our urban centres. Pocket forests, wildlife corridors and repurposed land feature prominently and crucially the city has already implemented many of new ideas - In Ireland we need to “do more now” and not waste anymore time drafting, consulting, planning, debating. That time has passed.
From creating community gardens or repurposing laneways and side streets into nature corridors to ensuring public buildings include swift boxes for nesting birds, there is an abundance of innovative ways to improve the biodiversity, cityscape and quality of life if we challenge existing norms.
Councils can help to provide urban dwellers with locally sourced food produce by funding, supporting and providing more space for allotments and cooperative community farms in urban centres. This enables people to become immersed in nature, to better appreciate the natural processes and crucially to grow and consume food that is fresh, local and at low cost to them and to the planet.
We need to address a collective fetish for paving and concreting public spaces; these hard surfaces are a grim eye sore. Furthermore, they prevent stormwater run off and so increase flood risk while offering nothing to prevent further biodiversity loss.
It must be noted that there are many innovative projects across the country designed to enrich biodiversity, from major rewilding projects to more concerted efforts to leave space for nature in private gardens. An excellent example of an inclusive, expert led initiative is ‘We are The Arc’. https://wearetheark.org/
Further Reading
https://www.timeout.com/paris/en/things-to-do/paris-green-sustainable-city-plan-2030
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/06/8-cities-rewilding-their-urban-spaces/