As more cities are 'going grey', Kitchener and Guelph seem to be bucking the trend

A Statistics Canada report on urban greenness found that while more cities are "going grey,"that wasn't the case for Guelph or Kitchener, Ont.,whichin recent yearsactually saw an increase in urban greenness.

The report compared satellite images from 2001, 2011 and 2019 in large urban centres to track the amount of vegetation its conditionas part ofStatistics Canada's new ecosystem accounting program.

"It's a way that we can understand the effects that we have on ecosystems, but also the many benefits that they provide to us," said Jennie Wang, one of the authors of the report.

By looking at the samephysical space over time, Wangand her teamwere able to capture some of the changes that reflect urban densification and different factors that influence vegetation health, like droughts or floods, she said.

Guelph and Kitchener we're among a small numberof cities that saw an increase of green spaces between 2011 and 2019.

In Guelph, that number went from 80 per cent in 2011 to86 per cent in 2019. Kitchener meanwhile, went from76 per centto81 per cent.

"Council has over the last couple ofyears shown a strong commitment trying to keep Kitchener green," Niall Lobley, director of parks and cemeteries for the City of Kitchener told CBC'sThe Morning Edition.

Lobleypoints to the city's recent sustainableurban forest strategy that aims to grow the city's forest canopy, as one example.

In 2015, the city had aforest canopy of around 26 per cent. That grew to 27 per cent in 2019 due to the city'sgrowth of its already-existing mature trees, said the City of Kitchener.

"Really, it's a commitment to keeping things as green as we possibly can while still allowing the city to grow, change and develop," Lobleysaid.

Urban greennessgood for our health and ecosystem

Lobleysaid urban green spaces play a key role in health and wellbeing.

"It helps us feel better, there's been so many studies done that a few minutes in green spaces really does help people calm down," he said.

"The same can be said for hospital recovery. If you're in a hospital bed and you're looking out a grey jungle, you're recovery rates are slower than somebody who is looking out over a green space."

The need for urban green spaceswas highlighted during the pandemic as they became some of only places to safely host activities.

Urban green spaces also play a key a role in a city's ecosystem, by mitigating floods,Lobleysaid, and keeping the city cool during hot summer days.

Those benefits arewhat Wang and her team will keepan eye on as they continue their work.

"Urban greenness is one metric for urban areas and they are an important ecosystemto understand because they are the place where people live," she said.

Meanwhile, the City of Kitchener is currently looking for community inputon how it can grow and make its parks and green spaces even better through the Engage Kitchener website.