The leafy, green tree canopy in cities provides shade and helps lower ambient temperatures, and reduces the heat island effect. The trees also help to improve air quality by trapping particulates and absorbing pollutants like carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides. In addition, trees help to reduce noise levels and provide a sense of calm and peace. In Sydney, the urban tree canopy growing increasingly. Let’s take a closer look at what is happening in the city.
What Is the Urban Tree Canopy?
When you hear the word “canopy,” it probably brings to mind a tropical rainforest. But trees and other plants also help form a canopy in urban areas.
The urban tree canopy is the layer of trees and other plants visible above the ground in cities. It can include:
- deciduous trees
- evergreen trees
- shrubs
- vines
- grass
The canopy layer can be less than 30 feet tall (less than 20 in most urban areas). Some parts of the canopy layer may be under the sidewalk and street.
Extending the Urban Tree Canopy
While it is important to extend urban tree canopy in order to provide shade and respite from the heat of the sun, one must also take into consideration the need for sunlight to enter homes and onto roofs for solar power.
A balance must be struck so that homes and solar panels are not in perpetual shade, but the city is not entirely devoid of trees. In this way, the city can be a more pleasant and livable place for everyone there.
Extending the urban tree canopy does not only mean planting trees. It also means changing the building materials used to make homes and buildings, using more green roofs, and constructing atriums and living walls.
The Greenfield Housing Code
The Greenfield Housing Code states that all new housing must contain an urban tree canopy. As a result, The urban tree canopy is growing increasingly.
The Greenfield Housing Code helps to increase the urban tree canopy in Sydney by providing guidelines for constructing new homes. It mainly revolves around three key principles:
A green building envelope. This refers to the walls and roofs of a house and the materials used to make them. The use of energy-efficient materials is encouraged. The housing code encourages the use of renewable energy and energy-efficient appliances.
A green infrastructure. This refers to the trees, grass, and other plants that surround the home and make up the urban tree canopy. The concept of beauty also plays an important role. The housing code states that building lots should be designed in such a way that vernacular species of trees are used so that the look of the neighborhood remains the same.
A green neighborhood. This refers to the concept of community. The housing code states that residents should work with the developer, architects and other stakeholders to ensure that the green infrastructure of the neighborhood remains intact.
Conclusion
Extending the urban tree canopy in Sydney is important for a number of reasons. Trees help to improve air quality by trapping particulates and absorbing pollutants like carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides.
You can improve the Sydney urban tree canopy by starting a garden in your home. Northside Tree and Garden Service are one of the best landscapers in Sydney that can help you achieve this goal. Get in touch with us today to learn more.
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