Imagine waking up one day in a world where there are only buildings.

You
cant find any forests, plazas, or even parks anywhere. That is the kind of
dystopia we are looking at. With the advent of technology and the exponential
increase of the worlds population, the condition I stated above is even more
possible and plausible in the near future. Of course, none of us wants to live in a
world where we can no longer take a jog at the park, or breathe in the cool, fresh
air in the forests. That is why, I believe that the Government should do more to
increase green spaces in urban areas.

First and foremost, there are not enough green spaces in todays urban
areas. In large cities, from Cilegon (Indonesia), Manila (Philippines), and even
metropolitan cities such as Los Angeles and Atlanta (U.S.A.), there are not
enough green spaces for the public to enjoy. Only 30% of Los Angeles citizens
1
are within walking distance from a park, and Atlanta has less than 3 rd of a

square mile.

Open, green spaces are very beneficial to the population, especially in

urban environments. Firstly, according to a survey conducted by Husqvarna
Group, which is published in the Global Green Space Report (2013), that was
conducted in Australia, Canada, the PRC, France, Germany, Poland, Russia,
Sweden and USA, nature and greenery are elected as the 2 nd and 3rd biggest
contributors to a persons happiness. 89% of the respondents also consider
having access to Green Spaces are human rights. Secondly, parks and forests
contribute to the production of oxygen, which in high amounts, would help the
metabolism and immunity of the body.

Aside from the direct effects to the population, green spaces also help
firing up the local economy. According to a research conducted by students of
the Canadian Quebecs Laval University, which sampled 760 property sales
around the country in 2014, and found out that the presence of greenery helped
increase the propertys value up to 11.4%. Green landscapes also help increase
retail activity, as shoppers are often attracted to shopping malls and plazas that
are in close proximity with a green space. Finally, close proximity to natural
features such as trees, parks or other greenery has been proven to help increase
productivity of workers, therefore boosting the production rate of businesses.

In conclusion, to help boosting various aspects of their country,

governments should seek to increase the number of green spaces, because of
the three reasons I mentioned above. As a final tought,