Research needed into green spaces and urban growth
Last year more than half of the world’s urban population, 3.17 billion out of 6.45 billion people, live in and around cities, with trends indicating that this could extend out to 5 billion people out of a total world population of 8.1 billion people by 2030. Approximately 75% of the North American and European populations and approximately 90% of the Australasian populations live in urban and surrounding peri-urban areas.
In addition approximately 44% of the world’s population, that constituent many of the Third World countries are currently living under similar circumstances. The impact that urban growth in our cities and surrounding areas and its effect on our natural green sapces will have social, economic, environmental and health impacts and worthy of research.
National Workforce Report
Recently released Australia's National Workforce Report stated that 62% of Australian workers were found to be obese or overweight, with employee’s health strongly linked to absenteeism and loss of work productivity. UK research has linked the high cost of health in the United Kingdom and the potential use of natural green space in reducing health costs. For example a daily paced walk in natural green space can potentially save billions of dollars that comes about from obesity and physical inactivity, and any indirect health costs, from diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and absenteeism from work.
Tree facts
Did you know that trees maintained over a 50-year lifetime can generate $US31,250 worth of 0_2 , provide $US62,000 worth of air pollution control, recycle $US37,500 worth of H_2 0, and control $US31,250 worth of soil erosion (USA Forest Service - Pamphlet #R1-92-100). In addition one acre of tree cover can give the equivalent of 2.8 t O_2 /year and clean 330 lbs of CO_2 (90 lbs C) from the atmosphere through direct sequestration. The cost-benefit implications of natural green space, calculated through direct estimation and implied valuation, of a single Arizona tree planting program, could provide a $US236.5 million net environmental benefit over a 40-year time frame.
IFPRA-Europe Congress
"Trees a living beings: essential in city development" is the Congress theme for the IFPRA 2006-European Congress which will be held over 11-13 September in Annecy, France. A great program on topics that should be of interest to all park and recreation personnel. Further information Jean Claude Gauthier on jean-claude.gauthier@ville-annecy.fr
Park economist on sabbatical
Professor John Haydu, from the University of Florida, will be taking his sabbatical leave with Associate Professor David Aldous, of the University of Melbourne, from the 1st August 2006 to study the economic value of the Australian turfgrass industry. Professor Haydu, who is a an agricultural economist, is currently in New Zealand with the NZ Sports Turf Institute, undertaking similar research. The outcomes of both pieces of work will assist in the marketing and production of the instant lawn industry as well as assisting their research and development profile.Further information daldous@unimelb.edu.au
10th National School in Park Management
Thirty-five park and recreation people will be participating in the 10th National School this year which will be operating from the 2nd-7th July.
The School, which is a cooperative venture between The University of Melbourne, The City of Melbourne and Parks Victoria, has participants coming from Queensland, NSW, South Australia and Victoria and even one participant from Singapore. Case studies this year range from management of cultural/indigenous sites through to sewer mining in parks as a means of water conservation, to park planning of the Royal Children's Hospital grounds. Further information daldous@unimelb.edu.au
