Promoting URBAN AGRICULTURE as a CLIMATE CHANGE STRATEGY in
Kesbewa, Sri Lanka
Lafir S. Mohamed |Project Manager – Urban Resilience
Central College – Piliyandala20.02.2013
COMMON CHALLENGES IN URBAN AREAS
Cities 5-7º C hotter than the surrounding rural areas
Yearly Max Rainfall (upper)
Mahanama et al. Vulnerability Mapping, Kesbewa Urban Council Area
Extreme rainy Days –floods in Kesbewa
Food inflow to Kesbewa –Banana and papaya
Embilipitiya
Quantity: 3496kg
(76%)
300 km
Maning
Market Quantity:
450kg (9.7%)
36 km
Other area Quantity:
340kg (7.4%)
350 Km
Local
Production Quantity: 318kg
(6.9%)
6 km
URBAN AGRICULTURE (URBAN AND PERI URBAN AGRO FORESTRY)
CAN IT BE A SOLUTON ?
1. Storage
2. Infiltration
3. Evapo-transpiration.
Forest
0% impervious
85% Evapotranspiration
10% Runoff
Slides/Photos: L. Kohrnack
10-20% Impervious
Surface
Low Density
Residential Evapotranspiration
20% Runoff
50%
Industrial
and
Commercial
30% evaporation
55% Runoff
75-100% Impervious
surface
UPAF contribution to climate change mitigation, adaptation and co-
benefits
Mitigation:
• Reducing food miles, energy use and GHG emissions by replacing food imports with food grown in the city-region
• Enhancing carbon sequestration and storage in urban forestry
• Reducing methane emissions from landfills and energy use in fertiliser production by productively re-using urban organic wastes
UPAF contribution to climate change mitigation, adaptation and co-
benefits
Adaptation
• Reducing Urban Heat Island Effect by increasing surface of green area and tree cover
• Reducing incidence of floods by enhancing storm water infiltration and reducing run-off
• Reducing vulnerability of the poor by diversifying food and income sources
• Source of inspiration and learning
UPAF contribution to climate change mitigation, adaptation and co-
benefits
Co-benefits
• Improved nutrition
• Income generation and job creation
• Social and community building
WITH UPAF WITH OUT UPAF
011 2829412
THANK YOU