Forum

- Site-specific considerations (use, constraints...)
- Climate
- Diversity

De-sealing parking spaces, using trees and green walls to decrease heat in the cities

-city's most pressing environmental needs
-city's potential for the implementation of urban forests
-city's targets

I would start by taking into consideration the most degraded areas of the city but also the most "heat-prone"; considering that these, usually, are the most inhabited zones, I would involve the local community to make a participatory planning; furthermore, I would base my plans on the long-term objective of a diversified city, which is the opposite of the current centralised city, alongside a huge revision and intensification of the public transport network.

Given that my city is a dry place, with hot summers but very cold winters, I would focus initially on selecting well the type of trees and vegetation to be used. Other principles I consider important are irrigation and connection to the city and its inhabitants (including animals).

Three main principles for planning and designing an Urban/Periurban Forest:

Ecological sustainability – use native, diverse, and climate-resilient species.

Social inclusion – ensure accessibility, community participation, and equity.

Climate/environmental benefits – reduce heat islands, manage stormwater, and improve air quality.

Connecting people from various places in the city to the forest, allowing the forest to feel organic and self-moulded rather than planned by urban planners, and encouraging flora and fauna that are historically local to the place to return.

-community involvement in planning and management
-connectivity and accessibility
-equitable distribution of ecosystem services

I live in Baku, a very dry city. I would primarily consider drought tolerance when selecting trees for planting and future maintenance for sustainable development (let's call this environmental sustainability). I would also consider reducing the thermal impact on the city, as Baku is very hot (this is the climatic aspect). Furthermore, I would try to make the urban forest as attractive as possible for people, so that their interaction with the urban forest becomes part of their daily lives (this is the social aspect).

-Least greened areas - likely to tie in with most socially deprived - and how to maximise planting in those areas
-Tree species most resilient to pests, diseases and climate for area in question
-How can the planning most effectively provide beneficial services, whilst improving biodiversity

Accessibility: everyone should be able to get there easily and enjoy the most of the time there

Awereness: people must be informed and educated on the importance of the place, must know the time and effort needed to establish and the correct behaviour to keep it in good shape for the most of the time

Competence: everyone that works in the project (from the planning to the maintenance) must have the right knowledge required for his role to ensure the best quality possible