A new scientific article published in the journal Scientific Reports by Springer Nature explains how it's possible to boost urban resilience by strategically expanding tree cover to 30% and integrating nature-based stormwater management solutions.

The findings emphasize that land cover and soil drainage conditions play crucial roles in both runoff potential and heat mitigation. Therefore, effective urban greening management is essential. Utilizing modeling tools, we can pinpoint high-risk areas, optimize tree placement, and guide data-driven decisions to minimize inequalities and enhance ecosystem services.

The article focuses on evaluating how urban greening can alleviate the impacts of extreme heat and heavy rainfall in urban settings. The study employs the i-Tree HydroPlus model to simulate various scenarios of increased tree cover and restored hydrology across Karlsruhe's 27 districts, analyzing their effects on runoff and temperature over a five-year period.

The study highlights that strategic tree cover expansion, targeting 30%, combined with nature-based stormwater management, can enhance urban resilience by improving microclimate and reducing surface runoff. Land cover and soil drainage conditions influence both runoff potential and heat mitigation capacity, highlighting the importance of effective urban greening management. Modeling tools can help identify high-risk zones, optimize tree placement, and guide data-driven decision-making to reduce inequalities and enhance ecosystem services.

“This paper offers a novel approach by integrating the i-Tree HydroPlus model to assess the combined effects of urban greening on both thermal regulation and stormwater management at a district level. While previous studies have often focused on these aspects separately, this research provides a comprehensive analysis of how increased tree cover can simultaneously mitigate urban heat islands and reduce runoff during storm events. This dual-focus modeling approach enhances the understanding of nature-based solutions' multifaceted benefits in urban planning” explains the researcher Rocco Pace, lead author of the study and senior researcher specializing in urban greening and ecological-microclimate modeling. Pace contributed to the design, implementation, and interpretation of the modeling scenarios presented in the study, based on his expertise in assessing the ecosystem services provided by green infrastructure.

Link to the original article