What happens if you cut down all of a city's trees? - Stefan Al

Prevodilac: Milenka Okuka Lektor: Ivana Krivokuća

This is the tale of two ancient cities

Ovo je priča o dva drevna grada

and the trees that determined their destinies.

i drveću koje je odredilo njihove sudbine.

In 3,000 BC Uruk was more densely populated than modern day New York City.

Godine 3000 p.n.e, Uruk je bio gušće naseljen od današnjeg Njujorka.

This crowded capital had to continually expand their irrigation system

Ovaj prenaseljeni glavni grad je morao stalno da širi svoj irigacioni sistem

to feed its growing population.

kako bi prehranio rastuću populaciju.

2,500 years later in Sri Lanka, the city of Anuradhapura had a similar problem.

U Šri Lanki, 2 500 godina kasnije, grad Anuradhapura je imao sličan problem.

They were also growing constantly,

Takođe su stalno rasli

and like Uruk, their city relied heavily on an elaborate irrigation system.

i, poput Uruka, njihov grad je prilično zavisio od složenog irigacionog sistema.

As Uruk grew, its farmers began chopping down trees to make space for more crops.

Kako je Uruk rastao,

zemljoradnici su počeli da seku drveće kako bi bilo mesta za useve.

In Anuradhapura, however, trees were sacred.

U Anuradhapuri, pak, drveće je bilo sveto.

Their city housed an offshoot of the Bodhi tree

Njihov grad je bio domaćin izdanka drveta bodhi

under which Buddha himself was said to have attained enlightenment.

pod kojim je, kako se verovalo, Buda lično dosegao prosvetljenje.

Religious reverence slowed farmer’s axes

Religijsko obožavanje je usporavalo sekire zemljoradnika

and even led the city to plant additional trees in urban parks.

i čak je navelo grad da posadi dodatno drveće u gradskim parkovima.

Initially, Uruk’s expansion worked well.

U početku, širenje Uruka se odvijalo dobro.

But without trees to filter their water supply,

Međutim, bez drveća koje bi prečišćavalo zalihe vode,

Uruk’s irrigation system became contaminated.

Urukov irigacioni sistem je postao zagađen.

Evaporating water left mineral deposits,

Vodena isparenja su ostavljala mineralne naslage

which rendered the soil too salty for agriculture.

zbog kojih je zemljište bilo suviše slano za zemljoradnju.

Conversely, Anuradhapura’s irrigation system was designed to work

Nasuprot tome, Anuradhapurin irigacioni sistem je osmišljen da bude

in concert with the surrounding forest.

u sadejstvu sa okolnom šumom.

Their city eventually grew to more than twice Uruk’s population,

Njihov grad je na kraju imao dvostruko više stanovnika od Uruka,

and today, Anuradhapura still cares for a tree planted over 2,000 years ago.

a današnja Anuradhapura i dalje brine o drvetu posađenom pre 2 000 godina.

We may think of nature as being unconnected to our urban spaces,

Možda smatramo kako priroda nije povezana sa našim urbanim prostorom,

but trees have always been an essential part of successful cities.

ali drveće je oduvek bilo ključni deo uspešnih gradova.

Trees act like a natural sponge, absorbing storm water runoff

Drveće deluje kao prirodni sunđer koji upija višak vode od olujnih kiša

before releasing it back into the atmosphere.

pre nego što ga oslobodi nazad u atmosferu.

The webs of their roots protect against mudslides

Mreža njihovog korenja štiti od blatnih odrona,

while allowing soil to retain water and filter out toxins.

omogućujući tlu da zadrži vodu i prečisti toksine.

Roots help prevent floods,

Korenje pomaže u sprečavanju poplava,

while reducing the need for storm drains and water treatment plants.

umanjujući potrebu za olujnim slivnicima i fabrikama za prečišćavanje vode.

Their porous leaves purify the air by trapping carbon and other pollutants,

Njihovo porozno lišće pročišćava vazduh hvatajući ugljenik i druge zagađivače,

making them essential in the fight against climate change.

zbog čega je suštinski važno u borbi protiv klimatskih promena.

Humanity has been uncovering these arboreal benefits for centuries.

Čovečanstvo je vekovima otkrivalo ove prednosti drveća.

But trees aren’t just crucial to the health of a city’s infrastructure;

Međutim, drveće nije samo krucijalno za zdravlje gradske infrastrukture,

they play a vital role in the health of its citizens as well.

ono igra ključnu ulogu za zdravlje gradskih stanovnika.

In the 1870’s, Manhattan had few trees outside the island’s parks.

Tokom 1870-ih, Menhetn nije imao mnogo drveća izvan ostrvskih parkova.

Without trees to provide shade,

Bez drveća koje bi pružalo hlad,

buildings absorbed up to nine times more solar radiation

zgrade su upijale do devet puta više solarnog zračenja

during deadly summer heat waves.

tokom smrtonosnih letnjih toplotnih udara.

Combined with the period’s poor sanitation standards,

Uz loše sanitarne standarde tog perioda,

the oppressive heat made the city a breeding ground for bacteria like cholera.

nepodnošljiva vrućina je pretvorila grad u leglo bakterija poput kolere.

In modern day Hong Kong, tall skyscrapers and underground infrastructure

U savremenom Hong Kongu,

zbog visokih nebodera i podzemne infrastrukture

make it difficult for trees to grow.

teško je drveću da raste.

This contributes to the city’s dangerously poor air quality,

Ovo doprinosi kritično lošem kvalitetu vazduha u gradu

which can cause bronchitis and diminished lung function.

koji može da uzrokuje bronhitis i smanjenu funkciju pluća.

Trees affect our mental health as well.

Drveće utiče i na naše mentalno zdravlje.

Research indicates that the presence of green foliage increases attention spans

Istraživanja pokazuju da prisustvo zelenila povećava raspon pažnje

and decreases stress levels.

i umanjuje nivoe stresa.

It’s even been shown that hospital patients with views of brick walls

Čak je pokazano da se bolnički pacijenti sa pogledom na zidove od cigli

recover more slowly than those with views of trees.

sporije oporavljaju od onih sa pogledom na drveće.

Fortunately, many cities are full of views like this—

Srećom, mnogi gradovi su puni sličnih prizora -

and that’s no accident.

a to nije slučajno.

As early as the 18th century,

Još u XVIII veku,

city planners began to embrace the importance of urban trees.

gradski planeri su počeli da prihvataju važnost gradskog drveća.

In 1733, Colonel James Oglethorpe planned the city of Savannah, Georgia

Godine 1733, pukovnik Džejms Ogletorp je uradio plan grada Savane u Džordžiji

to ensure that no neighborhood was more than a 2-minute walk from a park.

kako bi se postarao da svaki komšiluk bude na najviše dva minuta hoda do parka.

After World War II, Copenhagen directed all new development along five arteries—

Nakon Drugog svetskog rata,

Kopenhagen je pokrenuo potpuno novi razvoj grada duž pet arterija -

each sandwiched between a park.

od kojih je svaka bila smeštena između parkova.

This layout increased the city’s resilience

Ovakav nacrt je uvećao otpornost grada

to pollution and natural disasters.

na zagađenje i prirodne katastrofe.

And urban trees don’t just benefit people.

A gradsko drveće nije samo dobro za ljude.

Portland’s Forest Park preserves the region’s natural biodiversity,

Portlandska park-šuma čuva prirodni biodiverzitet regije,

making the city home to various local plants,

zbog čega je grad dom raznih lokalnih biljaka,

112 bird species, and 62 species of mammals.

112 vrsta ptica i 62 vrste sisara.

No city is more committed to trees than Singapore.

Nijedan grad nije posvećen drveću kao Singapur.

Since 1967, Singapore’s government has planted over 1.2 million trees,

Od 1967. godine, singapurska vlada je posadila preko 1,2 miliona stabala,

including those within 50-meter tall vertical gardens called supertrees.

kao i ono unutar vertikalnih bašti visokih 50 metara koje se nazivaju superdrvećem.

These structures sustain themselves and nearby conservatories

Ove građevine snabdevaju sebe i obližnje konzervatorije

with solar energy and collected rainwater.

solarnom energijom i sakupljenom kišnicom.

Trees and vegetation currently cover over 50% of Singapore’s landmass,

Drveće i vegetacija trenutno pokrivaju 50% singapurske kopnene površine,

reducing the need for air conditioning

umanjujući potrebu za klima-uređajima

and encouraging low-pollution transportation.

i podstičući ekološki prevoz.

By 2050, it’s estimated that over 65% of the world will be living in cities.

Procenjuje se da će do 2050. godine 65% sveta da živi u gradovima.

City planners can lay an eco-friendly foundation,

Gradske arhitekte mogu da postave ekološke temelje,

but it’s up to the people who live in these urban forests

ali je na ljudima koji žive u ovim urbanim džunglama

to make them homes for more than humans.

da ih učine domovima i za druga bića osim ljudi.