This archive report was first published on 25 August 2020.
Nairobi Recovers Its Green Spaces During Pandemic. Other Cities Can Too ¶
As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, cities around the globe are being forced to rethink their priorities. In Nairobi, Kenya, the crisis has triggered a positive change in the way the city approaches green spaces.
On its first weekend after opening on August 14, 2020, the newly revitalized downtown Nairobi park was a hive of activity. Families flocked to the park, eager to explore the newly planted trees and enjoy the fresh air. A young man, fresh from church, remembered the park as a 'dangerous dumpsite' before its transformation.
But Nairobi's green spaces are not just a novelty for the city's residents. The Karura forest, a 1,000-hectare reserve defended by Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai in 1999 and secured by activists and the Kenya Forest Service in 2010, has seen a massive influx of visitors since the onset of the pandemic. Weekend visitors have doubled, with many families taking advantage of the opportunity to spend time together in nature.
"There has been a massive influx," says Eli Kogei, who runs the forest's tree nursery. "Schools are closed, and families are at home. By 11 am children are restless. You come and walk with them. When you get home, they are refreshed and can do their assignments."
"There has been a massive influx," says Eli Kogei, who runs the forest's tree nursery. "Schools are closed, and families are at home. By 11 am children are restless. You come and walk with them. When you get home, they are refreshed and can do their assignments." The forest is not just a boon for families, but also for adults who live in a growing culture of processed food and long sedentary hours in traffic. In Kenya, non-communicable diseases account for over 50% of hospital admissions. "Many are diabetic or have high blood pressure and have been advised to exercise," says forest scout Peter Kamau. "They really value it." "Many are diabetic or have high blood pressure and have been advised to exercise," says forest scout Peter Kamau. "They really value it." So what can other cities learn from Nairobi's approach to green spaces? The World Health Organization recommends that cities have at least 9 square meters of green space per person. Yet in developing countries, urban green space lags far behind this recommendation. And affluent areas are often greener than packed slums. This is problematic, says Cecil Konijnendijk, professor of urban forestry at the University of British Columbia, as marginalized populations can benefit the most from local green space. But there is hope. Inspired by Nairobi's example, cities around the world can take steps to increase their green spaces. Here are some steps that your city can take: Measure tree stock and increase tree canopy especially where it is sparse. Plant indigenous trees. Studies in Kampala and Addis Ababa found over 70% of street trees are exotic. Plant fruit trees: 80% of people in informal settlements in Nairobi are food insecure. If a donor or engineer, look beyond grey infrastructure like storm drains. "Green infrastructure" can reduce disasters like floods and extend the life of the built environment by years. Hire city foresters. Trees pay back many times over.
