Natural Environments
Categories:
- Healthy places and spaces,
- Collaboration,
- Equity,
- Nature,
- Asset based community development,
Access to green space is linked to increased physical activity and social interactions, decreased exposure to air pollution and reduced feelings of stress. Green spaces provide many benefits to municipalities, like improved air quality, flood protection, and habitats for wildlife. Trees and other plants are valuable to the community during extreme heat events. They provide shade and help reduce the heat island effect.
Municipalities and community groups have accomplished these initiatives by working together:
- Trails and parks like Red Deer’s park system, provide opportunities for recreation and transportation.
- Urban forest and climate adaptation strategies, like Drumheller’s help support municipal climate resilience and flood mitigation.
- Municipal programs like the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo’s Urban Forest Strategy can benefit the urban climate and reduce the heat island effect.
