UAE. Dubai Municipality has announced that it will undertake this year
109 landscape and beautification projects worth AED 463 million (US$132
million) which will include development of the existing six public
parks, setting up of 21 neighbourhood parks, 23 community facilities,
four ponds parks and several other beautification projects.
This was revealed by Rashad Bukhash, Director General, Projects
Department, while addressing GLADAC 2008, the first Gulf Landscape
Architecture and Design Awards Conference, which was held on Monday at
the Conference Centre of Knowledge Village.
He said the upcoming projects would add a total of 113 hectares of
greenery to the urban landscape and would include several
beautification projects for different areas across the city in line
with the Strategic Plan for Dubai Municipality (2007-2011) which seeks
to increase the per capita share of greenery to 23.4 square metres and
raise the total area of cultivated land to 3.15% of the total urban
land by 2011.
The new neighbourhood parks, which would include facilities such as
jogging tracks, play-grounds for a variety of games, water features,
walkways and shaded sitting areas.
The conference brought together presidents, vice presidents and
senior executives from world-renowned organisations as well as an
audience of up to 200 industry-related professionals and delegates
hailing from all corners of the globe.
Bukhash said the conference was highly beneficial for all
participants, including those from Dubai Municipality, a great
opportunity to learn and exchange expert knowledge in the field of
landscape architecture and design as well as to highlight the
importance of spatial design and landscape planning in the city.
"We, at Dubai Municipality, are pleased to associate ourselves with
IFLA in organising this prestigious event for the first time in the
region," said Bukhash.
Dr Diane Menzies, President of the International Federation of
Landscape Architects (IFLA), said GLADAC 2008 recognised the landscape
architecture industry's immense growth and development within Dubai,
the UAE and the GCC region.
"As global environmental and development issues are impacting the
face of landscape we need professionals and professional bodies to make
sure that the stewardship of the Earth is maintained for the better.
''The relationship between IFLA and the local associations can drive
educational, environmental, heritage, cultural and conservation issues
in all landscape matters and we welcome the opportunity of helping in
this region," she said.
Dr Menzies added that the UAE and GCC are currently going through a
development boom and have unique environmental issues that need to be
addressed in a careful and rigorous manner.
''Landscape architects should be and will be at the forefront of addressing these issues,'' she added.
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