Behind urban afforestation and sparkling green corners lie high water and energy consumption, pressures on desert systems, and difficult questions about sustainability. Is this ecological restoration – or urban greenwashing?
Amnon Director, Zveta - Science and Environment News Agency
In a city known for its deserts and skyscrapers, one of the most Urban forestry The largest in the world: More than 300 trees and plants were planted across Dubai in just six months. While the heat Summer In a city that breaks records every year and as part of a long-term strategic vision called "Dubai 2040", the municipality has set itself an equally ambitious goal: to transform Dubai from an arid urban space into a green, sustainable and aesthetic landscape. The cost: over $50 million. The project includes smart irrigation systems and landscape planning that seeks to change the face of the city and the way we think about urbanism in the desert. But is massive tree planting in a desert city the right step from an environmental perspective?
222 thousand more
Dubai's green initiative included a series of landscaping projects and for afforestation at intersections and main roads across the city that took place between January and June of this year. This is a comprehensive initiative spread over more than 3 million square meters to make public spaces in Dubai pleasant, For the benefit of And for those who order more. In addition to 300 thousand Trees and seedlings, 222 square meters of ground cover vegetation and seasonal flowers were also planted. Following the project, Dubai increased the city's green spaces In a-67 percent.
according to CEO״ל Municipality Dubai, Marwan Ahmed Ben Jalita, this is not just another "ornamental project" but a strategic move aimed at strengthening Dubai's urban identity and aesthetic appearance and positioning it as a leading sustainable global city in the world. According to him, the green initiatives are integrated into the city's quality of life strategy and strive to upgrade the public space, offer a vibrant and healthy living environment, and maintain a balance between the urban landscape, the architectural landscape and the environmental landscape. "We are committed to the highest standards of innovative and sustainable landscaping," Ben Jalita said in a statement to the media, "and as such, we see these projects not only as a contribution to the landscape but also as a contribution to a much broader environmental and social impact."
To maintain the blooming appearance without wasting precious water, smart irrigation systems were installed that include underground pumps and remote control networks. The systems are based on technologies "Internet of Things" (IoT) that enable real-time monitoring and optimization of water consumption – all as part of an effort to make the project environmental in its operation, not just in its appearance.
Greenwash?
On paper, this is an impressive move that offers both a visual and environmental solution, but precisely because of its extraordinary scale, fundamental questions arise. Is a place like Dubai, which has extreme weather with summer temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius and whose soil is sandy and poor, really suitable for cultivating trees on such a scale?
Along with advanced technological solutions, some argue that urban afforestation in the desert is an artificial, expensive, and in some cases even harmful endeavor, especially if it relies on non-native species or requires quantities of water that are not available in nature. The question is not just what it looks like, but how sustainable it is over time.
"From an environmental perspective, I don't see this as a significant advantage," says Prof. Uri Shaines, ecologist and chairman of the international organization Time "You can understand the motivations; planting trees in hot areas can benefit residents. But when you look at the big picture, it's a huge financial investment that sometimes seems like a waste. Those same resources could be directed to much more important and beneficial environmental initiatives," he says. "The question also arises, are the trees really meant to For shading And to improve living conditions, or is it mainly a green effect for the eye? According to the numbers they published, I'm afraid the answer tends to be the other way around." In other words, the large quantity of trees proves that the main goal is the large mass of the planting and not necessarily the quality of the trees and their efficiency.
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Beyond the question of the effectiveness of the initiative, Shaynes raises concerns about the opposite direction. According to him, massive and uncontrolled planting of trees in hot areas is not only not necessarily beneficial, it can also cause environmental damage. "In places like these, extensive planting of trees can create a new microclimate that increases humidity levels. This is a phenomenon that can exacerbate heat stress. When you invest a lot of resources in creating huge forests without control, I think it's a huge waste of resources," he says.
One of the most important contributions of trees is their ability to absorb carbon dioxide. From the atmosphere, and thus mitigate climate change and global warming. However, according to Shaynes, in recent years, doubts have been raised about the effectiveness of large-scale tree planting projects aimed at absorbing carbon. "Many projects of this type are now under increasing criticism from ecologists who understand that it simply does not work. It is not an effective tool for combating the climate crisis," he says, adding: "Tree mortality rates are high and the tendency to plant monocultures (trees of the same species, Ed.) may cause the spread of diseases within these forests," he explains.
He also notes that the economic cost of the project in Dubai is particularly high, and that if you really want to act for the benefit of the environment, you can do it at a much lower cost. "A tree to plant in Dubai costs several hundred dollars. You have to understand – for just one dollar you can save about 24 square meters of existing rainforest. Instead of wasting money on inefficient planting, it is better to invest in protecting the forests that already exist. This is what can really bring about effective change," he concludes.
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