Mitigating Urban Flooding thru Green Infrastructures
Rapid urban expansion exposes assets and people to increasing flood hazards. Urban sprawl and the increase of built settlements can result in the loss of permeable surfaces, decreasing the ability of water to seep underground. As a result, runoff, discharge, and sedimentation increase the rate of urban flooding like those that affect the City this past few months. Cities need a strategic mix of “grey” and “green” infrastructure or so-called Low-Impact Developments (LID) to mitigate these hazards. Low-Impact Developments (LID) can help increase a city’s resilience while providing co-benefits such as sustainability, biodiversity, and eco-tourism. In the previous years, IDIS conducted studies on the status and importance of various green infrastructures in building disaster-resilient cities. And with the data gathered, IDIS utilized this in lobbying for the integration and promotion of green infrastructure to various local policies and plans such as the Local Climate Change Action Plan (LCCAP) and Comprehensive Land Use Plan (2022-2032). 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗨𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀SuDS mimic nature and typically manage rainfall close to where it falls. SuDS can be designed to transport (convey) surface water, slow runoff down (attenuate) before entering watercourses. They provide areas to store water in natural contours and can be used to allow water to soak (infiltrate) into the ground or evaporated from surface water and lost or transpired from vegetation (known as evapotranspiration). 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀Permeable pavement is a low-impact design that can infiltrate water runoff into underlying soils, mitigate flood, provide cooling and reduce heat than conventional cemented pavements. 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀Urban green spaces generally include parks, public green spaces, allotments, green corridors, street trees, urban forests, roof, and vertical greening, private gardens, and domestic gardens. Increasing urban green spaces is considered an effective approach to reducing the adverse impacts of urbanization on the hydrological cycle. Urban green spaces intercept water from the canopy and stem areas and enhance infiltration into the soil and root systems. 𝗨𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗻 𝗪𝗲𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀There are several wetlands in Davao City, and most people seem to neglect its importance, especially in flood mitigation. Wetlands act as natural sponges, soaking up and holding water until it can infiltrate into the ground. Wetlands also provide immense water storage benefits while slowing water to reduce the height of floods and erosion rates. Currently, IDIS conducts ecological profiling on various wetlands in the City. Data gathered on this study will be utilized for lobbying for the protection of urban wetlands in the City. 𝗥𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴Managing, controlling, and making use of rainwater within the vicinity of rainfall is known as rainwater harvesting. Rainwater harvesting decreases peak flows as well as reduces flooding and the damages resulting from flooding. These are just few of the infrastructures that can help mitigate flooding in the City. In addition to this, IDIS believes that by collaborating across the disciplines of urban planning, public policy, and disaster risk management and integrating grey-green infrastructure into the urban landscape, we can create robust cities and healthier communities.
National Arbor Day – Building Greener Cities – 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟮𝟱, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟭
𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 The rapid expansion of cities takes place without any land use planning strategy and the resulting human pressure has highly damaging effects on forests, landscapes, as well as green areas in and around cities. Increasing pollution and the frequency of catastrophic climatic occurrences are all effects of urbanization that are frequently exacerbated by climate change. Urban trees can help cities become more adaptable to change by mitigating some of the adverse effects and social repercussions of urbanization. A city with well-planned and well-managed green infrastructure becomes more resilient, sustainable, and equitable in climate change mitigation and adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and ecosystem conservation. Trees can provide a benefit package worth two to three times more than the investment made in planting and caring for them throughout their lifetime. 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲, 𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀!
Christmas Gift Idea 3: Spend Time Outdoors!
While gifts may be nice, quality time this holiday may also be what our loved ones need. This Christmas why not try some outdoor activities that are not only good bonding activities with family or friends, they are also good for your health and for our environment. Check out public parks here in Davao that you may visit. Visit Shrine Hills for bird watching and other garden and nature resorts in Davao.
Shrine Hills is Davao’s Urban Center Bird Refuge
As many as 72 species of birds have been documented in Davao City’s Shrine Hills. Twenty of these recorded birds are found only in the Philippines. The area is seen as an urban forest, a much needed green space in the urban district and hailed as the city’s last potential large-tier park based on the public parks study in Davao by New York University. Environmental groups are advocating for Shrine Hills’ continued protection and are proposing the privately-owned publicly open spaces (POPOS) concept as a win-win solution for land owners who want to develop their properties for business. “We managed an impressive 26 species on the day and the total species recorded in the Shrine Hills area now numbers 72, 20 of which are endemic,” said Pete Simpson, Wild Bird Club of the Philippines, who has been making records of birds for Jacks Ridge and other areas in Shrine Hills.