Diana Lima

@dianalima1671188923 · 18 Jul 2022

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Cooling down the cities

No issue is as important and current, or as talked about, as global warming and the climate crisis. It's something common to all parts of the globe: the excessive heat that is being felt in cities, deforestation, the degradation of ecosystems, the loss of habitat; it's all part of the same cycle of degradation and if we do nothing to help combat these changes, it will soon be very difficult, if not impossible, to live in urban centres.
What if there was a way to help reverse this trend and stop cities from continuing to behave like heat islands, while also reconnecting people with nature and each other, as well as literally helping to plant hope for a better future?
This is what I discovered when, through mutual friends, I learned about the URBEM project. I joined the team in 2021 and I am currently one of the volunteers on the ground; we are looking after a plot of land in Lisbon's Bela Vista Park. With each passing day I feel that URBEM's environmentalist mission gains more strength and visibility.
URBEM is an environmental NGO that was founded by Sasi Kandasami in early 2021 and that fights against the climate crisis by creating "Rapid" Forests applying the Miyawaki method.
Planting trees is the solution, but it needs planning. Another factor to take into account is the time it takes for trees to grow, and time is something that is rapidly running out. This is where Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki's method comes in. This innovative method aims to grow natural forests in relatively small spaces, such as urban parks. These are purpose-designed, bio-diverse mini-forests that achieve self-sustainability in just three years and absorb 265% more carbon than traditional reforestation methods. They help sustain thousands of native plants and provide habitats for countless local species, making them a major asset in the fight for cooler temperatures, cleaner air and a sustainable future.
Since the last century, city dwellers have become more detached from forests and natural spaces, spaces previously very present in the lives of communities. This deficit has resulted in visibly negative impacts on the health and well-being of both children and adults.
URBEM's plan also aims to incorporate pedestrian spaces and events in order to ensure that people return to green spaces, and that they also use and value them as hubs of social connection. In addition to all the benefits that these green areas can offer, whether environmental or for the physical and mental health of the inhabitants, there is also the great potential that they can function as community hubs for ecological education, art, theatre, and unique events.
- By accelerating the growth process of a forest, the method creates rapid and practical afforestation in dense urban environments;
- Creating biodiversity hotspots by planting micro-forests that connect communities to nature;
- An education platform to teach and inspire communities on how to live a more sustainable life.

The collective of dedicated volunteers of which I am a part includes biologists, forest engineers, native plant experts, and others (many, many volunteers) who have donated their time to get Rapid Forest to become a reality. From careful design, suited to the plot and local climate, to the planting phase and now more of a follow-up, with a view to creating a sustainable outcome, which in the long term will bring benefits not only to the environment, but also to the community.
With 74.5 hectares, Bela Vista is the second largest green area in the city, after Monsanto Forest Park. The park already has a great diversity of native flora and fauna, but the project being developed by URBEM will help to boost this biodiversity by creating a major attraction in this urban area.
One of URBEM's mottos is: The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is now.
The planting phase began in November last year. It is our first Rapid Forest and is growing on a 2500 square metre plot generously given by the Lisbon City Council in the Parque da Bela Vista.
We are currently looking after the maintenance of the plants. Accompanied by Sasi Kandasami, who is also always present in the field, we usually go to the site on Wednesday evenings.
I feel we are helping to create a positive and lasting change that makes all the difference to the community and our planet. #Yoorslocalnews