Ecological connectivity of urban green areas

Abstract

Urbanization and urban sprawl are significant phenomena impacting cities worldwide, driven by population growth and the expansion of urban areas.. Given that land is a scarce yet essential resource and that people are congregating in cities, one of the main difficulties facing the world today is the fair and sustainable development of urban land and space to meet the demands of this expanding urban population. The most important elements of urbanization and urban development have been determined to be urban sprawl and growth. The growing population and urbanization have led to heightened environmental pressures, including atmospheric pollution. The burning of wood, vegetation, coal, natural gas, oil, gasoline, kerosene, diesel, garbage, and chemicals has caused urban air pollution issues for millennia. The twentieth century saw the identification of two broad categories of pollution at the metropolitan scale: photochemical smog and London-type smog. The latter is caused by the release of hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunshine, while the former is caused by the burning of coal and other raw materials while there is a fog or significant inversion. Most of the time, urban pollution is a mix of the two. This chapter discusses the early history, early control, and chemistry of gas-phase urban air pollution. Prior to the 20th century, air pollution was viewed as a legal or regulatory issue rather than a scientific one. Pollution issues were seldom addressed since laws were either lax or nonexistent and the health effects of air pollution were little recognized. The primary goal of this research is to evaluate and emphasize the significance of ecological connectivity in urban areas. Factors that hinder or facilitate connectivity will be analyzed and highlighted to serve as a valuable guide for future urban management, planning and design.