Latest news with #greenery
The National
4 days ago
- Science
- The National
Vegetation in UAE deserts grew by 40% after 2024 floods
The flood that hit the UAE in April last year caused an increase in greenery in the country's desert landscapes, research has found. Vegetation in some areas increased by up to 40 per cent compared to the same time in 2023 and this has had a lasting impact, which is 'very surprising', climate scientist Dr Diana Francis told The National. 'If you drive through the desert now, you'll see green patches growing on the dunes. That's not something we are used to seeing in the UAE,' she added. Dr Francis, head of the environmental and geophysical sciences lab at Khalifa University, co-wrote the paper published in the npj Climate and Atmospheric Science journal. She said it provided evidence that extreme weather was beginning to reshape ecosystems and alter local climates. 'Of course, this has an impact on the ecosystem, on the biodiversity, the small animals that live there, and also in the long term,' she said. Boosting biodiversity Dr Andrew Gardner, associate director of biodiversity conservation at Emirates Nature-WWF, agreed that weather events such as the 2024 floods can have a profound impact on local ecosystems. 'Such rare bursts of vegetation can temporarily boost biodiversity. Insects become more abundant, which supports lizards and, in turn, predators like snakes,' he said. 'In May [2024], for instance, we witnessed a dramatic emergence of snout moths, whose caterpillars feed on these desert plants,' he said. This biodiversity also supports small mammals such as gerbils and their predators, including falcons and desert monitor lizards. However, Dr Gardner warned that such ecological responses are fascinating but 'they are short-term and cannot offset the broader risks and disruptions posed by increasingly erratic climate patterns'. Shifting tropical boundaries Such weather could potentially cause climate zones to shift, Dr Francis said. 'More vegetation means more moisture exchange and can even shift the boundary between arid and tropical zones.' She said her study, which was published in May, aligns with earlier work suggesting the tropics are expanding, bringing more humid conditions to traditionally dry areas. That could fundamentally alter ecosystems and biodiversity in the Middle East. Dr Gardner added that, in the Abu Dhabi desert, a flush of ephemeral plants – which grow only briefly when conditions are favourable – was observed. 'Remarkably, some of this vegetation has persisted even in the absence of further rainfall into 2024,' he added. While 2024 was the wettest year on record for the UAE, 2025 has so far has been the driest, with April and May breaching temperature records. Such fluctuations are driven by climate change, Dr Francis said. Climate concern The study confirmed that human-driven climate change made last year's rainfall in the UAE, the heaviest in 75 years, far more likely in the future. The research used cutting-edge climate attribution science to examine the rainfall, Dr Francis explained. 'We compare simulations of the actual event with a hypothetical version under pre-industrial conditions. What we found was that anthropogenic [human-influenced] climate change dramatically increased both the intensity and likelihood of this event,' she said. Is extreme weather the new normal? Dr Francis said fluctuations between extreme heat and extreme rainfall showed 'the fingerprint of climate change'. 'The Arabian Sea is warming rapidly, and with warmer oceans comes more evaporation, which fuels heavier rainfall events,' she added. A key finding of the study was the role of a weather pattern that meant saturated air from the Arabian Sea lingered over the UAE for 12 hours, significantly compounding the severity of last year's storm. 'Such events usually pass within hours,' Dr Francis explained. 'But this one was sustained due to unusual atmospheric and oceanic conditions. With ocean surface temperatures rising, similar set-ups are increasingly likely.' Need for resilient cities The study includes an analysis of the effect of the flooding on urban infrastructure. The findings suggest existing drainage systems and land use policies need to be enhanced to cope with such extreme weather. 'Our cities are not designed to absorb these volumes of water,' Dr Francis said. 'If we keep covering land with impermeable concrete, water has nowhere to go. We need to rethink urban planning with more green space and better drainage to reduce future damage.' Plans are already under way. In Dubai, a Dh30 billion ($8.16 billion) drainage plan was approved last year. The system aims to increase rainwater drainage capacity by 700 per cent, meet the emirate's needs for 100 years and ensure the city is ready to face 'climate-related challenges'. Hot topic Dr Francis and her team are turning their attention to extreme heat. 'We're studying past heatwaves from a public health perspective, and we're also integrating artificial intelligence into weather models,' she said. 'AI might help us improve the short-term forecasting of extreme events.' She also said more vegetation in the desert would affect its ability to reflect solar radiation back into the atmosphere, potentially leading to hotter conditions. 'Instead of being all yellow, it is now yellow and green,' she said. 'It's not the same energy that is being absorbed by the surface of the desert.'
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mail
The huge Parkinson's risk linked to where you LIVE - and why it might be even worse in upmarket areas: Experts reveal who is most at risk
For many homeowners, a property surrounded by greenery, open space and a sense of community is the ultimate lifestyle prize. The appeal is obvious: proximity to nature, low-traffic streets, and easy access to outdoor leisure pursuits create a sense of wellbeing and prestige that's hard to match.
The Guardian
09-06-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Medellín's sublime return to nature
Over the last 10 years, Medellín, Colombia, has undergone a stunning transformation: huge swaths of the city that were previously encased in concrete have been restored to their natural state, such as in Parque Prado. Photograph: Jaime Saldarriaga/Guardian Parques del Río, seen on 3 June 2025. Since 2016, the city has invested in greening the landscape as a way to reduce the urban heat island effect, improve air quality, prevent flooding and restore biodiversity. Photograph: Jaime Saldarriaga/Guardian Parques del Río. Medellín's renaturalization plan includes the creation of dozens of 'green corridors' – interconnected streets, bike paths, parks and bridges – that have helped lower temperatures by 5F (2.8C) in some areas. Photograph: Jaime Saldarriaga/Guardian Parques del Río. 'Residents of Medellín feel that greenery is an important part of our landscape,' said Marcela Noreña Restrepo, the city's secretary of environment. 'There's a sense of ownership. People take better care of the spaces where there's greenery.' Photograph: Jaime Saldarriaga/Guardian Workers maintain Avenida Oriental, a main thoroughfare in Medellín. Photograph: Jaime Saldarriaga/Guardian Officials added green roofs and vertical gardens to buildings, such as on Medellín's city council building, reducing the urban heat island effect and helping the buildings' interiors stay cool. Photograph: Jaime Saldarriaga/Guardian A mourning dove perched on Medellín's city council building. 'With more greenery, we have more wildlife,' Noreña Restrepo said. 'Butterflies are coming, little birds are coming.' Photograph: Jaime Saldarriaga/Guardian View of a highway from Parques del Río. Many of Medellín's overpasses have been greened to promote biodiversity and improve air quality. Photograph: Jaime Saldarriaga/Guardian Parque Prado was a pilot project in Medellín's renaturalization plan. Photograph: Jaime Saldarriaga/Guardian The site, which had previously fallen into disrepair, was restored using recycled materials and native plants. Photograph: Jaime Saldarriaga/Guardian Medellín has roughly 4,000 streams, and the city has been greening embankments, including in the Parques del Río. 'Everything is water,' said Noreña Restrepo. 'If we don't intervene appropriately, problems like flooding begin to appear.' Photograph: Jaime Saldarriaga/Guardian Plaza Botero, a park with 23 statues by the city's own Fernando Botero, gained new vegetation and other updates. Photograph: Jaime Saldarriaga/Guardian Visitors get some shade in Plaza Botero. Photograph: Jaime Saldarriaga/Guardian Plaza Botero. Designers paid special attention to the composition of the landscape, Noreña Restrepo said: 'Where there's vegetation, it's not just a tree, but rather a combination of different species. So, it's very pleasant to walk around – yes, because of the lower temperature, but also because the city is much more beautiful.' Photograph: Jaime Saldarriaga/Guardian
BBC News
09-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Gloucester 'urban greening strategy' to phase out weed killer use
A strategy to increase greenery in a bid to tackle climate change is set to be approved amid plans to phase out use of a controversial weed part of the Gloucester Urban Greening Strategy Gloucester City Council wants to plant more greenery to address the threat of climate change and extreme cabinet will consider the strategy this week as it prepares to phase out the weed killer glyphosate, which can harm insect populations and council hopes to harness the natural benefits of trees, green roofs, hedgerows, and green screens to help tackle climate change. Glyphosate is used in very small quantities across Gloucester and, if eaten in large amounts, can have health impacts on small mammals and pets, reports the Local Democracy Reporting may also decide to stop spraying the city centre where weeds are usually kept to a minimum due to high from residents will be considered and the move will be kept under the weed killer will still be used to manage obstructive growth or treat invasive and dangerous species, including Japanese knotweed. The strategy will also consider the introduction of rainwater gardens to collect excess surface water and reduce pressure on sewers during high a recent meeting, Alastair Chambers, Independent councillor, criticised the use of the "cancer-linked" weed killer."This chemical, glyphosate, has been banned or heavily restricted in over 30 countries, including France, Germany and Austria," he said."Yet here in Gloucester, the administration persists in spraying it on our streets and green spaces, ignoring mounting scientific concerns and international precedent."Sebastian Field, Liberal Democrat councillor, said his group is committed to phasing the chemical said: "By reducing its use alongside our plans to increase the amount of green space in our city, we will do our bit to try to reduce the alarming decline in insect populations."
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Residents 'thrilled' with greening up
Residents in Grimsby have been "thrilled" with efforts to bring more greenery to the town centre, the council has said. The improvements, including new seating, planting and "living walls", were made as part of Levelling Up Funding awarded to the town in May last year, according to North East Lincolnshire Council. Grimsby in Bloom was working with the authority as part of the project, and was providing the plants and flowers throughout the year for hanging baskets along Victoria Street, a spokesperson said. Residents told the authority the town was "more appealing" and the changes were "positive" for the area and "exactly what Grimsby needs". As part of the improvements, new seating has been put in place and a number of "living walls" - structures attached to buildings and filled with plants - are being installed to improve the look of the town and to help air quality, the authority said. According to the council, Grimsby resident Janet Bird had given feedback that the improvements "look lovely". "All the bright plants and flowers really add to Victoria Street and make it more appealing," she said. "This is exactly what Grimsby needs." Meanwhile, Christine Ward, who said she was a regular visitor to the town centre, explained: "It's such a positive for the area and definitely makes it a better place." The authority said a pop-up garden was being created along West St Mary's Gate and festoon lighting was being installed along Victoria Street as part of the project's next stage. Elaine Atkinson, chair of Grimsby In Bloom, said they had also received many positive comments from visitors to the town. "To sit around these flowers makes you feel so much better. It makes the town look great, but it also does wonders for your personal health and wellbeing," she said. Councillor Philip Jackson said he was thrilled to see positive change in Grimsby which was part of the larger regeneration of the town centre. "With demolition under way, the new cinema, state-of-the-art market and other leisure outlets are one step closer," he said. "This is such an exciting time for Grimsby and North East Lincolnshire as a whole," he added. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Streets to get £1.5m levelling up money Grimsby receives £20m government cash Long-running market to reopen in temporary space North East Lincolnshire Council
