Read in our blog on Medium here.
Green Yerevan:
local community engagement
for Yerevan re-vegetation
local community engagement
for Yerevan re-vegetation
"About 11% of Yerevan's population is at high risk of heat-related diseases due to unequal access to green public spaces, a deficit of greenery, and extensive urbanization"
what we plan to do
Not a vision yet, just several parks. Let’s reveal the potential for others and map it together
How to decide where to plan and prioritize urban greening to make it just and relevant to city dwellers?
We will collect data and create maps and information regarding public health, microclimate, air quality, green space distribution and accessibility to highlight the areas in need. Based on detected health risks, census data and public space deficits we will suggest and prioritize greening measures.
we plan to:
- distribute temperature measuring sensors citywide to analyse microclimate and heat-related risks;
- assist local scientists in transferring their long-term research data into particular urban greening solutions;
- aggregate satellite data for AI analysis and predictive modeling;
- establish the comparative studies of various spatial solutions and their impact.
As a first step, we have already analysed the correlation between greenery cover and urban heat islands. This knowledge is helpful for the planning process, as now we can see the areas where greenery might mitigate heat and its negative effects on people’s well-being.
Secondly, we plan to estimate the economic impact of having/lacking greenery in Yerevan. What value does one tree have for the city's economy and society? How can we reduce the city budget expenditures if we plan, plant and maintain properly?
outcomes:
- raising public awareness of the evident risks to well-being and ways to mitigate them with urban greening
- equipping urban actors with factual information for strategic planning and implementation
How to decide where to plan and prioritize urban greening to make it just and relevant to city dwellers?
We will collect data and create maps and information regarding public health, microclimate, air quality, green space distribution and accessibility to highlight the areas in need. Based on detected health risks, census data and public space deficits we will suggest and prioritize greening measures.
we plan to:
- distribute temperature measuring sensors citywide to analyse microclimate and heat-related risks;
- assist local scientists in transferring their long-term research data into particular urban greening solutions;
- aggregate satellite data for AI analysis and predictive modeling;
- establish the comparative studies of various spatial solutions and their impact.
As a first step, we have already analysed the correlation between greenery cover and urban heat islands. This knowledge is helpful for the planning process, as now we can see the areas where greenery might mitigate heat and its negative effects on people’s well-being.
Secondly, we plan to estimate the economic impact of having/lacking greenery in Yerevan. What value does one tree have for the city's economy and society? How can we reduce the city budget expenditures if we plan, plant and maintain properly?
outcomes:
- raising public awareness of the evident risks to well-being and ways to mitigate them with urban greening
- equipping urban actors with factual information for strategic planning and implementation
Together with profound professionals and initiative citizens who are already aware of the urban greenery impact and willing to be proactive in fostering the greening of Yerevan and other cities of Armenia we develop an exemplary public collaborative action plan with spatial priorities for greening, supporting guides and a set of solutions.
Not only new greening is required, but also the replacement, since the trees grow old.
What is the scale of the challenge and how to get prepared for this in advance?
Where will measures bring more positive impact?
What are the relevant solutions?
What is the spatial potential and is there any alternative scenario to be revealed for creating more public green spaces?
Answering these questions with a feasibility study we enforce urban actors with additional solutions to reach the target goals on urban greening.
outcomes:
Not only new greening is required, but also the replacement, since the trees grow old.
What is the scale of the challenge and how to get prepared for this in advance?
Where will measures bring more positive impact?
What are the relevant solutions?
What is the spatial potential and is there any alternative scenario to be revealed for creating more public green spaces?
Answering these questions with a feasibility study we enforce urban actors with additional solutions to reach the target goals on urban greening.
outcomes:
- spatial disparities in greenery distribution will be revealed
- potential locations for new green zones and parks identified
- a pilot map for re-vegetation will be developed
- cost implications of re-vegetation efforts will be estimated
- economic and social impacts of re-vegetation initiatives will be evaluated
Let’s map together where we want to have more greenery.
A big park is not always the only and best option if we want to get more accessible green spaces faster. It’s hard to place a new park in a dense city, it might take years to create it and plant all the trees.
We assume there is a potential for alternative solutions and PIF will work on them. Please follow our activity to know more about the exact proposals.
Streets, parking lots and all other kinds of green infrastructure along the streetscape. The proposal for streets greening will be evaluated in collaboration with the municipality. It will be the first step to define the priority and the scale of the issue.
A big park is not always the only and best option if we want to get more accessible green spaces faster. It’s hard to place a new park in a dense city, it might take years to create it and plant all the trees.
We assume there is a potential for alternative solutions and PIF will work on them. Please follow our activity to know more about the exact proposals.
Streets, parking lots and all other kinds of green infrastructure along the streetscape. The proposal for streets greening will be evaluated in collaboration with the municipality. It will be the first step to define the priority and the scale of the issue.
our objectives
Provide every citizen with green public space within walking distance of 300m
The European Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a maximum distance of 300 meters to the nearest green space (of at least 1 hectare)
Increase the green surfaces for each district up to 30%
Many of the most ambitious cities in the world have set a target of achieving 30% canopy cover. At the neighborhood level, 30% should be a minimum, and cities should strive for even higher canopy cover when possible
Provide greenery for every citizen in every district with at least 9m2
Once the unofficial recommendations of the WHO have been met, it may be possible to increase this number
why do we do this
We recognize the urgency of the issue, and significant work has already been undertaken by various organisations to address it. However, the magnitude of the problem necessitates the coordination of different actors and initiatives to accelerate progress.
As an independent institution, PIF aims to establish a platform for stakeholder cooperation and facilitate communication to achieve synergy of the efforts.
As an independent institution, PIF aims to establish a platform for stakeholder cooperation and facilitate communication to achieve synergy of the efforts.
project progress
Yerevan maps and insights
In our work, we hold World Health Organization recommendations and targets set in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with 17 SDGs as core operational standards
Map 1: Yerevan greenery (NDVI)
Only 28% of Yerevan's territory covered green. The 10 most green European cities covered green by 48-77%. The average green infrastructure in European cities made up 42% of the city area.
Map 2: public spaces in Yerevan
82% of the Yerevan population has limited access to green public spaces. In Europe, this indicator reaches 56% with an average of 18.2m2 of publicly accessible green space per inhabitant. In comparison, Yerevan only has 10m2 of green public spaces per capita.
Map 3: urban heat islands in Yerevan
Over 4°C on average, the city's land surface temperature exceeds its surroundings. While some city districts are overheated by 1.2°C, others experience temperatures 7.7°C higher than their surroundings.
Map 4: heat-related health vulnerability. elderlies
36% of the population above 75 primarily in Erebuni, Ajapnyak, Nubarashen, and Shengavit districts are most at risk for health issues related to the UHI effect.
Map 5: heat-related health vulnerability. kids
35% of children under 4 y.o. primarily in Erebuni, Ajapnyak, Nubarashen, and Shengavit districts are most at risk for health issues related to the UHI effect.
why is it important
Extreme heat puts citizens' health at risk. Single heat wave events can last weeks, occur consecutively, and result in significant excess mortality. Heat also causes significant infrastructural and economic challenges. The high summer heat temperatures have become a usual occurrence in Armenia.
impact increased energy consumption, elevated emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases, and lead to additional budget expenditures.
— 172 electricity breakdowns occurred in Yerevan during the hot summer of 2022. The current PM2.5 concentration in Armenia is 1.2 times above the recommended limit given by the WHO 24-hour air quality guidelines value.
economic benefits of UHI mitigation measures:
For example, a study in Austria suggests savings in 50 years horizon for Mödling
mortality savings
€398 million on mortality
reduction
reduction
morbidity savings
€1.429 million on morbidity reduction
productivity savings
€15.3 million on work productivity reduction
cooling savings
€3.9 million on cooling savings
crowdsource
Let’s unite for a greener city.
Got a spot that needs more greenery? Drop a pin on the map and tell us why.
Your input and our data are the drivers for change. We can't make every idea happen, but the more ideas we get, the clearer our vision becomes.
Interactive map is coming soon.
Got a spot that needs more greenery? Drop a pin on the map and tell us why.
Your input and our data are the drivers for change. We can't make every idea happen, but the more ideas we get, the clearer our vision becomes.
Interactive map is coming soon.
Photo: EtoRetro
do you want to know more?
- Over 55% of the world’s population lives in urban areas and this is set to rise to 68% by 2050.
- Almost 40% of urban dwellers have no access to safely managed sanitation services and many lack access to adequate drinking water.
- An estimated 91% of people in urban areas breathe polluted air.
- Increased Energy Consumption
- Elevated Emissions of Air Pollutants and Greenhouse Gases
- Compromised Human Health and Comfort
- Impaired Water Quality
- Provisioning
- Regulating
- Cultural
- Supporting
It is known that scientifically grounded urban greening assures ecological tolerance, longevity, and functional use of green plantations.
It is the most productive and cost-effective method of urban environment quality management.
It is the most productive and cost-effective method of urban environment quality management.