Amos Atumye Alao, President of the Society of Landscape Architects of Nigeria (SLAN), has issued a strong warning of the escalating heat crisis that the nation captures and asked for immediate investments in green infrastructure to protect the urban population.
With record -breaking temperatures and high level of humidity across the country, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has characterized the increasing risk of heat stress, heat stroke and other health complications. In cities such as Lagos and Abuja, the situation is deteriorated by the UHI effect of the municipal heat island (UHI), in which concrete landscapes absorb landscapes and make temperatures considerably higher than in surrounding rural areas.
“The extreme heat we experience is not just a weather anomaly. It is a direct result of poor urban planning and a limited green infrastructure, ”said Alao. “If we don't act now, the Nigerian cities are increasingly not becoming reliable.”
Slan is committed to urgent solutions supported by science to combat rising temperatures, including tree planting, urban green and natural -based interventions. Trees such as Terminalia Mentalis and Albizia Lebbeck, which are known for their cooling properties, can significantly reduce the surface temperatures, improve air quality and offer a significant shade in densely populated areas.
However, Alao emphasizes that only tree plants are not sufficient. In order to build up air-conditioned cities, landscape architects have to actively participate in strategies for climate-speaking design and heat images.
Slan emphasizes important strategies, such as B. the strategic positioning of heat-tolerant vegetation to maximize cooling, to generate parks, green corridors and urban forests, to reduce the temperatures and to improve the biological diversity and to include green roofs, vertical gardens and permeable surfaces in order to reduce heat absorption and improve the air circulation.
“Increasing temperatures will continue to affect productivity, health and general quality of life if we do not integrate any sustainable solutions into urban planning,” emphasized Alao. “We have to prioritize the landscape architecture as an important instrument for climate adaptation and reduction.”
Slan calls on the government and real estate developers to work with landscape architects in order to design and implement climatic guidelines. Without immediate intervention, the Nigeria risks urban heat waves, increased energy costs and falling public health.
“The time to act is now. Our cities, our economy and our well -being depend on sustainable urban development, ”concluded Alao.