Free the tree (the importance of urban green).

As an expert in (rain)water management, we pride ourselves in finding smart solutions to deal with these issues, and more often than not we solve problems by connecting multiple solutions for other problems into one. Solving rainwater discharge issues while simultaneously helping create more cooling off places, oxygen as well as adding character to grey cities is an interesting challenge. We need to connect and combine solutions to solve problems, more particularly: we need to help change the perception cities hold when it comes to rainwater if we truly want to build future-proof cities. Instead of treating rainwater as dangerous, which it can be, we should look towards the benefits of water. Simply put, better blue (rainwater) management leads to better green management, which helps massively with keeping our grey (urban) environment cool and liveable. The recently published report ‘Circular Water Cities’ of the World Economic Forum is a great read on how cities can optimize the reuse of water and wastewater resources.

Water as an opportunity

One of the most important reasons why cities are not able to handle big amounts of rainwater is because they are not designed for it, yet. Our streets and roads aren’t all able nor equipped to absorb current rainfall. Which explains that the default perception of cities is to get rid of the water. However, that perception is shifting more and more towards the idea that water can also be used to cool cities. Either via bringing back to surface water like lakes and ponds, but also to water trees. Because, what if we told you that trees can contribute big time to cooling down a city? At Wavin, we look at water as an opportunity, a valuable source, rather than a threat for urban areas. That’s why we asked ourselves: how can we make use of these large amounts of rainwater in a way that we can connect it to trees in an urban environment? A so-called closed loop, where a positively reinforcing balance for water and city is present of course with the help of our best friend: trees.

 

 

Trees are vital

Trees play a vital role in our lives. They provide us with oxygen, store CO2, bring us shade, and: they make us happy. We need trees, not only in forested areas, rural areas or our backyard, but also in the places where more and more people are packed together, in cities. And that is because trees are natural problem solvers. By providing oxygen as well as shade they can easily combat heat stress, if we give them a helping hand in their growth. Bigger and healthier trees can help make cities future proof by acting as a natural air conditioning unit. A fully grown tree can absorb about 150 kilograms of Co2 per year. If you think about it, and if we take London as an example, we find that the inner London carbon storage equals half a million tons that trees can take up, which is 30 million pounds that would have to be paid for the same amount of Co2 storage.

Lack of space

So the solution for fighting climate change and heat stress seems simple: plant trees in cities. We definitely should, but there’s one big bottleneck: space. As much freedom and space as trees have in forests and other green areas, they struggle in urban environments. Especially in busy city centers. Trees need space to grow, above ánd below the ground. But the existing infrastructure and the need to keep building new homes for the growing population don’t allow them.

At Wavin, we found a solution for that: Wavin TreeTank®. A system consisting of modular units installed around a void where the tree will be positioned. After the tree is planted, it will be anchored and pipework is installed for irrigation and ventilation. The Wavin TreeTank system allows the roots with water and access for air nutrients. Because of this the roots get the space they need to grow and branch out. At the same time, the system acts as a barrier against the roots causing damage at the ground level, like pavements and the pipework. In this short video, the working of TreeTanks is very well explained.

Future proof cities

Luckily, we see that landscape architects and city authorities realize how much good greenery can do for a city. More and more city planners recognize the importance of investing in sustainable development. The United Nations also challenges cities to grow more trees in cities with their trees in cities challenge in which they aim to localize action to help urban authorities to control surface water, reduce air conditioning needs and more in their cities. Scandinavian and in particular Danish cities are in full swing as well. The canopy - the percentage of trees - within a city environment is an important pillar for these city governments as they understand how much more well grown trees can do for a city in regard to heat stress and other climate issues. By 2030, the City of London aims to have 10% more green coverage, similarly Brussels is aiming for 17%. The French government has passed legislation requiring canopy in the cities to be above a certain percentage, and the mayor of the country’s capital has made it a top priority to create an urban wood in Paris.

If we want to build future-proof cities, the shift towards a greener environment is inevitable. So we’re happy to see the tide is turning and more and more cities are open for change. Wavin is committed to the urban green movement and is collaborating with towns and cities all over Europe to plant trees. Like in the city of Hasselt, in Belgium. Our Wavin TreeTank made it possible for the municipality to plant 86 large trees in the Quartier Bleu district. To date, 2500 cubic meters of material for the tree tanks has now been delivered and assembled. After this pilot case, in 2019, we’ve scaled up our activities with 11 projects to date across Europe (Germany, Netherlands, Denmark and Ireland)

Social value

Next to dealing with rainwater, energy reduction and climate control, there’s one impactful - and possibly quite surprising - side effect that should not be overlooked when it comes to trees. Wim Vandecauter, Business Development Manager at Wavin: “Trees are causing house prices to rise up between 5 to 18%. You can look at this financially, but it indicates the social character of a tree. The tree is a reference point, a social meeting place. Trees are air filters, provide shade and last but not least: people love to see a fully grown tree nearby house.”

Simply put: people love trees. So let’s give them some love back. Investing in greener environments leads to a nicer place to call home: a future proof city.