Green communities
Sustainable communities mean cities and towns, which have taken various steps to remain healthy for a long period. Such communities have a strong sense of place and a vision, which is embraced and promoted by the vital sectors in the community. This implies that government agencies, businesses, disadvantaged groups, religious organizations, environmentalists, and civic associations need to be in the forefront to ensure their communities remain green. These communities need to value the benefits of an ecosystem, efficient usage of resources and actively try to encourage a local based economy. In most cases, a persistent volunteer spirit is often rewarded by tangible results. Partnerships between the government, nonprofit institutions, and the business sector are necessary to attain green communities.
Ways to develop sustainable environment
The first step to a sustainable city is the establishment of a plan that has specific goals with a vision tailored to distinct characteristics of every individual community. The process involves a selfless amount of public input and depends on the elected official to make sure that there is total commitment, as well as participation from government departments. Citizens’ contribution and support is vital in all aspect of the process of planning. Strategies need to be developed to seek greater contribution from all economic, as well as social groups in the entire community. America has been in the forefront in advocating for healthy and green communities by the establishment of organizations to tackle the issue (Bell & English Nature Agency 2004). The Municipal Research Centre, found in Washington, offers a guide on ways of using technology to boost citizen participation. Communities need to encourage collaboration among stakeholders in the process of making development decisions.
The natural resources accessible in every community need to be conserved to guard native species, as well as sustain biological resources for clean water and air, public safety, food, and shelter. In instances when communities are not capable of preventing development from violating crucial natural ecosystems land degradation is evident. Efforts need to be made to conserve linear and connected greenways to enable wildlife attain resources, which are crucial for their existence, devoid of interruption by fences and roads. For example, highways and exiting roads remain an efficient tool to guard wildlife by permitting them to cross under or over roads specially designed bridges, as well as tunnels (Mazur, 2012). The Federal Highway Administration offers information on different critter crossings and maintains a nationwide database that has successful projects. Where possible and suitable, natural resources need to be enhance to help in city beautification and increase public awareness on promotion of healthy environment and living.
The City of Greenville has in the last decade has been working on immense downtown revival projects that focus on Falls Park, found in Reedy River. Before the initiative to revitalize the polluted river, it was in a bad shape with blocked views and restricted access. Presently, the park offers a stunning waterfall view from the recently constructed Liberty Bridge, which serves as a centerpiece magnetism for the city, while maintain the natural environment integrity. As Americans seems to become conscious on the food they eat, the local and chemical free foods are on the increase because of their economic and social importance. Communities need to support and promote practical, environmentally sound, as well as social reasonable food systems at both regional and local areas.
The development of physical and monetary access to farmers markets, supermarkets, and organic markets that sell fresh foods contributes to a healthy and sustainable community. Large cities need to support local farmers, as well as promote healthy eating practices by getting rid of barriers and offering incentives for urban farming. This can be done by ensuring the provision of opportunities for residents to grow food. The City of Philadelphia adopted a Food Charter in 2008, which articulates the commitment of the city to offer an affordable, locally grown healthy food and safe food for all the residents.
The charter states that the Mayor Office Sustainability need to create a food policy that seeks to conquer barriers associated with urban farming and created by zoning. Other issues such as irrigation, liability insurance-concerning usage of vacant land, volunteers, as well as equipment need to be taken into consideration. Suburban sprawl together with land separation uses often leads to an auto-dependent society and ultimately increase dangerous emissions in the air. The situation creates pointless challenges on infrastructure by destruction of priceless natural resources comprising of prime agricultural lands, which limit connections and aggravate social isolation (Garforth & Medearis 2011). Numerous of these negative impacts can be significantly reduced by directing latest housing and business development towards different existing infrastructure and development.
Communities need to increase investment downtowns to revitalize them by use of Brownfield remediation that infill development. Main streets as well as downtown shopping districts have to improve the help of coordinated mix strategies. Policies have to be established to encourage solid pedestrian-friendly and linked communities. The U.S. Green Building Council for Neighborhood Development has a rating system with specific fundamentals for certification. The process is necessary to help local governments as a tool for sustainable neighborhood growth policy. Geographic Information Systems remain a powerful tool used by many local governments to make informed smart growth and sustainable land-use decisions (Benedict, McMahon & Conservation Fund, 2006). The easiest way for communities to decrease waste is through a inclusive recycling initiative. These need to take into consideration pick-up services mainly for standard recyclable goods and drop-off locations for dangerous materials such as oil, paint, electronics, batteries, and anti-freeze. Part of the initiative includes public education on ways and materials that need to be recycled.
Conclusion
All the practices discussed are beneficial in ensuring a healthy and a green environment for the next ten years. Public debate about environment conservation in such communities remains inclusive, constructive, and engaging for the benefit of a healthy environment. Unlike the development approaches taken by traditional communities, sustainability strategies tends to emphasize the participation of the whole community instead of the concentration of disadvantaged neighborhoods. Other aspects include ecosystem protection, as well as significant and broad-based participation of the citizens that leads to financial self-reliance. Leaders and communities in America have been keen in embracing green design and thinking in terms of environmental conservation. However, the main purposes of community associations should be to create sustainable practices, as well as approaches in communities without green language in their policies.
Planned communities often exist to improve the quality of members’ lives as they offer amenities, choices, and lifestyle that many individuals value. Developers seem to have found a way to enjoy competitive advantage by the construction of new communities that have common recreational amenities and service provision. All these activities focus on green practices that ensure appropriate appreciation, restoration, and valuation about the natural surroundings associated with the community even in an urban setting.
References
Benedict, M. A., McMahon, E., & Conservation Fund (Arlington, Va.). (2006). Green infrastructure: Linking landscapes and communities. Washington, DC: Island Press.
Bell, S., & English Nature (Agency). (January 01, 2004). Nature for people: The importance of green spaces to East Midlands communities.
Garforth, P., & Medearis, D. (January 01, 2011). Green Jobs Strategy and the Transition to the Low-Carbon Economy in Northern Virginia.
Mazur, E. (January 01, 2012). Green Transformation of Small Businesses: Achieving and Going Beyond Environmental Requirements.
