Socioeconomic, Institutional And Technical Issues Inurban Forestry

Introduction Urban Forestry and Green Economy Nexus Green economy has been defined by UNEP (2010) as an economy that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. In its simplest expression, a green economy is low-carbon, resource efficient, and socially inclusive. According to UNEP (2011), green cities are defined as cities that are environmentally friendly. Indicators measuring environmental friendliness or performance can include: levels of pollution and carbon emission, energy and water consumption, water quality, energy mix, waste volumes and recycling rates, green-space ratios, primary forests, and agricultural land loss. Rapid urban growth and activities in cities occasioned by lifestyles and standard of living have been of major concern in green economy discourses. For example, it has been established that 50% of the global population was living in urban areas in 2007, and will reach 69 per cent by 2050 (UN Population Division, 2006 and 2010). Rapid urban growth tends to overwhelm cities where the struggle to develop infrastructure, mobilise and manage resources has negative consequences for the environment.