Floodplains as greenbelts in urban areas
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.38140/trp.v24i0.3087Keywords:
cultural ecosystem, ecological planning, ecology, floodplain ecosystem, human interference, mega polis, urban environmentAbstract
The aim of this article is to study the effect of human interference in the floodplain ecosystem within urban areas. To achieve this aim a summary is given of the importance of urban greenbelts, ecosystem dynamics, as well as certain drainage basin characteristics. The misuse of floodplains for urban development (e.g. stream channel canalization, road building and the erection of buildings), and the influence of such actions on floodplains (e.g. higher flood peaks and' accelerated erosion), leads to the conclusion that these areas should be seen as a natural assei, to an urban community, rather than a dispensable wasteland to be used for urban expansion. The second conclusion reached is that to maintain artificial greenbelts in urban areas, the increasing cost in human energy inputs alone, justifies the conservation of floodplains as natural greenbelts within the urban environment.
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