Corp readies to battle ‘blue-green’ issues
Kochi is a signatory in the project along with 45 cities in the world to conserve and restore forests, for pro…Read MoreKOCHI: With the launch of the Cities4Forests (C4F) projects in the city on Saturday, the corporation has begun its campaign to raise awareness and work out sustainable solutions for addressing ‘blue-green’ issues in its limits. The ‘blue-green’ issues refer to matters related to water bodies and urban forestry. The C4F projects have been initiated jointly by global agencies for ‘partnering’ with forests to tackle climate change.
Kochi is a signatory in the project along with 45 cities in the world to conserve and restore forests, for protecting watersheds and improving public health.
Corporation councillors and officials spoke of the heat islands (an urban area that is significantly warmer than its surrounding rural areas due to human activities) in the city and its surrounding areas and major watershed problems. The local body will work along with agencies such as World Resources institute (WRI), Pilot Projects and Revolve Media to integrate the inner, nearby, and faraway forests into city development plans and programs.
Delivering the inaugural address, mayor Soumini Jain said the extreme climate events were an indication of nature’s fury at man’s activities and a reactive approach was not a sustainable solution for a dense urban space like Kochi.
Jaya Dindhaw, head, urban development, WRI India, mentioned the various elements that would be taken up under C4F in Kochi.