Urban Green Spaces and Their Impact on Environmental Health - Tripoli as a Model

Abstract

Population growth and spatial expansion have significant negative impacts on urban green spaces, through land use violations within cities, encroachment, random expansion outside urban planning boundaries, and the encroachment of agricultural lands adjacent to cities. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in 2020, approximately 54% of the world's population lived in cities and towns, and this number is expected to rise to nearly 70% by 2060. Nearly two-thirds of the urban space that will exist by 2030 has yet to be built, so it is critical that we seize the opportunity to create and maintain healthy and sustainable urban environments. Urban green spaces such as home gardens, parks, and forests offer numerous benefits to urban residents. By improving physical fitness and reducing depression, the presence of green spaces can enhance the health and well-being of people living and working in cities. Green spaces also indirectly impact our health by improving air quality and reducing the impact of heat waves by lowering urban temperatures. Additionally, vegetation in urban environments stores