Green belt
From Wikinvestor
A green belt or greenbelt is a policy or land use designation used in land use planning to retain areas of largely undeveloped, wild, or agricultural land surrounding or neighboring urban areas. Similar concepts are green ways or green wedges which have a linear character and may run through an urban area instead of around it. A green belt is basically an invisible line that goes around a certain area, stopping people building on there so that some of the wild and agricultural land can be saved.
Purposes
In those countries which have them, development in green belt areas is heavily restricted. The stated objectives of green belt policy are to:
- Protect natural or semi natural environments;
- Improve air quality within urban areas;
- Ensure that urban dwellers have access to countryside, with consequent educational and recreational opportunities; and
- Protect the unique character of rural communities which might otherwise be absorbed by expanding suburbs.
The green belt has many benefits for people:
- Walking, camping, and biking areas close to the cities and towns.
- Habitat for wild plants, animals and wildlife.
- Cleaner air and water
- Better land use of areas within the bordering cities.
The effectiveness of green belts differs depending on location and country. They can often be eroded by urban rural fringe uses and sometimes, development 'jumps' over the green belt area, resulting in the creation of "satellite towns" which, although separated from the city by green belt, function more like suburbs than independent communities.
