NIRAS Planning is highly experienced with urban agriculture as well as urban forestry through various international development projects.
We believe that urban agriculture is an important component in the integrated planning of both existing and new urban areas. Future urban areas should not be placed in areas with a very high agricultural potential, since agriculture and not least a stable local food supply are very important to a sustainable development of a specific region. Instead, new urban areas should be placed in areas where agro-processing zones may be integrated in new developments to increase the quality and refinement of some types of food and in order to create new jobs.
Urban and peri-urban forestry relates to trees in or near urban areas. Focus needs to be adapted to the specific situation (street trees, park trees or trees in stands), whether it is related to functions and policies, technical aspects or management aspects. There is, and must be, a clear distinction between urban and peri-urban forestry in developed and developing countries. The basic need for food, drinking water, fuel wood and construction material is straining the scarce resources available in and around most cities in developing countries. However, environmental functions such as water protection, climate regulation, reduction of air pollution and CO2 sequestration may be very similar – but priorities may be very different.