To combat climate change and pollution, Authorities in Madrid are building a 75-kilometre green wall around the city, Europe's largest metropolitan forest. The forest, dubbed “El Bosque Metropolitano” (the Metropolitan Forest), will be the new green lung of Madrid with over 450,000 new trees and other vegetation. The forest will stretch around Madrid's perimeters with new parks, children's zones, dog trails and hiking and biking routes for city-dwellers and tourists. The first trees will be planted in October and will include native species such as wild olive trees, strawberry trees, willow, ash, elm, as well as gorse, rosemary, thyme and juniper and other bushes and shrubs.
When finished, Madrid's 'green wall' will be a forest of indigenous trees that can absorb 175,000 tons of CO2 per year but also the heat generated by human activity. Temperatures under the shade of these trees are 2 degrees lower than the rest of the city.
Source: Euro News Green
