Introduction
Philadelphia, a city endowed with a prestigious history and culture, is becoming more progressive in adopting sustainable city development strategies. In the meantime, creating food forests has become one of the most popular approaches to developing resiliency, ensuring food security, and engaging in environment-friendly practices. As stated earlier by the Philadelphia Orchard Project, Philadelphia already has urban agricultural advocacy groups and servants who have demanded the adoption of food forests in schools, city parks, places of worship, and lots that have been kept vacant for a long time. Food forests could produce many benefits, such as providing edible plants, reducing environmental problems, and promoting community life. This article analyzes the literature on food forests and gives a general description of their multiple advantages applicable in the Philadelphia context.
The issue of a food forest is anything but a constant. Munsell et al. (2021) point out that the food forest can be considered a sustainable agroecosystem designed to manage and mimic the structure and functions of a natural forest but with edible plants being promoted. The project will mainly concentrate on tree planting that yields fruits and nuts since the research shows they have proved best in producing complex fruits and nuts (Jordan, 2020). Gervasi et al. (2021) found that nuts are a rich source of nutrients and phytochemicals and, when combined with a healthy lipid profile, could contribute to the prevention of some chronic diseases, spread protection against oxidative stress and inflammation, and improve mental performance and decrease the effect of aging and neurodegeneration.
The components, composed of multiple layers like food trees, shrubs, herbs, and ground cover, must be present. Food forests first consider diversity, soil health, and ecosystem stability (Munsell et al., 2021). Providing urban forestry in different environments in the city, both public and private spaces, will contribute mainly to transforming vacant lots, parks, and community gardens into productive biodiversity and food production grounds. The presence of the forest will undoubtedly enhance the community’s health and well-being.
People eat healthier from a food forest by accessing fresh and nutritious food. This element decreases diet-related diseases such as obesity and diabetes (Clark et al., 2020). Furthermore, associated with green spaces, there are aspects of good mental health, less stress, and overall well-being, which shows the therapeutic value of food forests to urban dwellers. Secondly, food forest planting as a form of biodiversity conservation is also one of the benefits. Trees give food and other necessities for human and wildlife populations, such as birds, bees, and mammals. According to the World Health Organization (W.H.O., 2015), biodiversity means the variation of ecological entities, including their environment. If trees were planted, we would have food and medicine, as per W.H.O. in 2015. Hence, the restoration and creation of food forests becomes necessary for sufficient nutrition for the rising population, less soil erosion in the cities, and proper trees for medicines, pharmaceuticals, and research.
A food-forest project would improve Philadelphia’s food security. Brīto and Borelli (2020) The role and importance of urban food forests in Brazilian cities were studied by two researchers, and they discovered that the urban poor rely on urban food forests for food. Food forest systems also enhance the local food sources by producing many nutritious varieties of local fruits, vegetables, nuts, and herbs. In a city where fresh food produce is seen as a scarce commodity, especially in the excluded neighborhoods, food forests drastically improve access to food and counter food deserts (Brito & Borelli, 2020). In line with the U.S. Census Bureau (2022), it is estimated that about 22% of people from Philadelphia are below the poverty line. A food forest will help fight the hunger effects in these areas.
In addition, it can cause a city’s economy to uplift. A food forest can also help improve Philadelphia’s economy by bringing local empowerment. Food forests are regional food production hubs where local economic development can flourish through entrepreneurship, skills training, and market expansion. Crops that have done better than expected are sold at farmers’ markets or via community-supported agriculture (C.S.A.), bringing extra income for the local growers and creating a basis for the small-scale food business.
A food forest is a crucial component to keep the environment sustainable. Food forests do the double duty of mitigating climate change through carbon sequestration and water conservation while building urban resilience (More, 2020). Karnauskas and other researchers have established the fact that exposure to CO2 results in human loss of cognition and can lead to fatality if a person is trapped in an area of high CO2 concentration. Studies show that urban tree planting is of paramount importance by including that in this section. Ngern and Sungnoen’s research on trees in Bangkok, Thailand (2020) underscored the significance of trees. The study revealed that food forests in urban regions help combat CO2 because trees photosynthesize in exchange for CO2; that is to say, they use light energy to create and convert organic matter. This process lowers the effect of CO2 pollution on people’s health in cities. The trees also give out oxygen as part of the photosynthetic process, which means the air we breathe is being enriched beyond measure, thus rendering sustainable human and animal life possible (Tor-Ngern & Leksungnoen, 2020). Gradually, the issue of carbon emissions has become an essential topic for cities and the world, so governments and institutions should start using pine tree plantations in urban centers.
Philadelphia boasts of a solid and active food forest organization. The Philadelphia Orchard Project, one of the educational agencies that brought about urban agriculture in 2007, strives to partner with community groups that plan and plant orchards in neighborhoods with useful and edible plants across the country (Philadelphia et al., 2024). Through these success stories, the food forest is fundamental in Phili. Munsel and Hemmelgaerr (2021) noted that the orchard fruits, including figs, pawpaw strawberries, apples, and serviceberries, grow well in Philadelphia because of the city’s climatic characteristics. Implementing an urban food forest program is a beauty feature and a practical investment in community health.
The relationship between trees and the urban community does not stop on the aesthetic level or the health factor; the social aspect of humans with the trees out there is also greatly influenced. Croy et al. (2020) also noted that trees could be planted in city parks that are recreational areas and sources of relaxation, providing social interaction. This practice results in community cohesion and promotes well-being. Nisbet et al. have proved that a freshness of mind is made possible by trees, which aid people in reducing their anxiety levels and maintaining good mental health (Nisbet et al., 2020). An optimistic society in which people are not depressed is probably the one to be at peace and a place to have positive human relations. W.H.O. (2015) believed that urban centers decorated with trees upgrade the entire city’s pleasure activities and the overall quality of life for urban inhabitants because they can also enjoy the effects of climate change, which are limited. Planting more trees in urban areas helps to develop sharing cities that are just and inclusive. Concerning this issue cited by Croy et al. (2020), park trees supply shade and cooling effects that reduce temperatures near or within highly populated urban areas. By giving the specific planting areas in such metropolitan areas, every citizen will have excellent shelter, wind reduction, and fruits of these trees, thus providing equal services to all humans.
Admittedly, urban food forests offer many advantages beyond canceling fumes release, but this also has a set of challenges that must be dealt with to realize their full potential. One of the main reasons why the urban trees become fewer is the scant spacing for planting trees as the place is densely populated. Tor-Ngern and Leksungnoenn(2020) proposed that urban area centers and federal government bodies should jointly work with N.G.O.s, businesses, and residents to enable urban tree-planting programs to be successful and sustainable.
In the end, food forests turn into the backbone of sustainability, equity, and community resilience; therefore, they incorporate Philadelphia’s urban environment in a supportive way. Through the employment of the functions of nature to feed bodies, provide social networks, and bring back climatic niches, food forests offer a total solution to the multifaceted urban problems of the 21st century. By staying committed to funding, partnerships, and bottom-up involvement, Philadelphia can ignite the whole promise of food forests to achieve an urban space that is fairer, greener, and more resilient for all the people who live there.
References
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Clark M, Macdiarmid J, Jones AD, Ranganathan J, Herrero M, Fanzo J. The role of healthy diets in environmentally sustainable food systems. Food and nutrition bulletin. 2020 Dec;41(2_suppl):31S-58S. https://doi.org/10.1177/03795721209537
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