Evaluation of open green spaces needed to the sustainable urban development in drylands: the case of the metropolitan area of Mendoza, Argentina

ARBOIT, MARIELA EDITH

Ljubljana

Conferencia; 19th European Forum on Urban Forestry (EFUF 2016); 2016

EFUF

Population increase, accompanied by various socio‐economic problems, has resulted in a marked trend towards urbanization, and, in the most problematic cases, without land management policies and guidelines of environmental sustainability. Intensive urbanization is associated with the occupancy and modification of the soil. One of the variables considered to determine the impact of land use is dryland vegetation cover. The study of morphological variables of urban buildings and urban tree canopy cover is essential for sustainable urban development in arid areas. The objective of this study is to assess the environmental impact caused by covering land area with building development in Greater Mendoza. In this application, a representative sample of 32 urban blocks is considered, selected according to the shape, orientation and municipal morphology. Preliminary results show that public and private green spaces occupy only 21% of the total area of the blocks considered, while the remaining 79% are occupied by constructed area, areas of sidewalks and streets, and areas of closed and open irrigation ditches. Open green areas are insufficient to offset the impact of land use in drylands. It is recommended to evaluate compensation strategies, such as increasing green spaces with species of low‐water requirements, or vine canopies, among others.