Wendy Y. Chen – författare

This book represents the latest research on urban forestry in a Malaysian context. It demonstrates that urban forestry is concerned not only with environmental enhancement, but also other aspects, such as recreation, health and well-being, and government policies. This edited collection provides a comprehensive overview of urban forestry studies from various researchers in Malaysia, and includes rich historical perspectives of urban forestry in the country. It also tackles related issues in policy. The greening of urban Malaysia in the 1970s focused primarily on beautification and was primarily the province of horticulturists, landscapers, nursery workers, town planners, and architects, with negligible inputs from foresters, particularly urban foresters. Perhaps for that reason, the term “landscaping” has been used more widely than “urban forestry” by government and private institutions, politicians, stakeholders, academicians, and the public. Nevertheless, the authors show that theconcept of urban forestry is not new for developing countries such as Malaysia, where urbanization is increasing at a rapid rate. The book unpacks this demographic shift from a predominantly rural to a principally urban society. As the only unified body of work on urban forestry and arboricultural studies in Malaysia, this volume presents an important interdisciplinary reference for students, researchers, and scholars in physical geography, forestry and urban forestry, arboriculture and landscape architecture, both in Malaysia, and in other developing urbanizing countries, particularly in Southeast Asia. It is also an important resource for those working in environmental policy and practice, excavating the vital connection between the environment and well-being.

This book represents the latest research on urban forestry in a Malaysian context. It demonstrates that urban forestry is concerned not only with environmental enhancement, but also other aspects, such as recreation, health and well-being, and government policies. This edited collection provides a comprehensive overview of urban forestry studies from various researchers in Malaysia, and includes rich historical perspectives of urban forestry in the country. It also tackles related issues in policy. The greening of urban Malaysia in the 1970s focused primarily on beautification and was primarily the province of horticulturists, landscapers, nursery workers, town planners, and architects, with negligible inputs from foresters, particularly urban foresters. Perhaps for that reason, the term “landscaping” has been used more widely than “urban forestry” by government and private institutions, politicians, stakeholders, academicians, and the public. Nevertheless, the authors show that theconcept of urban forestry is not new for developing countries such as Malaysia, where urbanization is increasing at a rapid rate. The book unpacks this demographic shift from a predominantly rural to a principally urban society. As the only unified body of work on urban forestry and arboricultural studies in Malaysia, this volume presents an important interdisciplinary reference for students, researchers, and scholars in physical geography, forestry and urban forestry, arboriculture and landscape architecture, both in Malaysia, and in other developing urbanizing countries, particularly in Southeast Asia. It is also an important resource for those working in environmental policy and practice, excavating the vital connection between the environment and well-being.

This book presents nature as the fundamental infrastructure for sustainable urban living rather than as an aesthetic afterthought in the face of cities' mounting problems, which range from biodiversity loss and climate change to public health disparities. The first section, Nature and Wellbeing, explores the critical relationship between human health and access to nature, providing evidence-based perspectives on the ways in which urban forests, green spaces, and landscapes rich in biodiversity support mental, physical, and social well-being. In addition to highlighting initiatives that bridge the green divide in marginalized groups and highlighting the pressing need for fair access to nature, it offers case studies that demonstrate how design and policy may incorporate nature as a fundamental factor in determining public health. Nature-based solutions (NBS) that protect urban populations from climate impacts and strengthen ecological integrity are highlighted in the second section, Nature and Climate Resilience. The book highlights nature as a proactive factor in climate resilience planning through examinations of coastal adaptation, wetland regeneration, and urban green infrastructure. It discusses the governance structures, ecosystem services, and policy frameworks that allow cities to strategically incorporate nature into their responses to environmental deterioration, flooding, and heat stress. The book explores how biophilic design, cultural narratives, and technology innovation come together to create urban settings where nature becomes essential to identity, function, and community in its last section, Nature-driven Placemaking. This section highlights how environment can inspire, connect, and economically empower people through everything from participatory planning techniques to imaginative depictions of urban wildlife. Altogether, Nature in Cities, Nurturing Cities presents a strong case for purposefully, inclusively, and resiliently integrating nature into the urban fabric.