India is one of the fastest urbanizing countries in the world with a UN Report projecting the urbanization levels to reach approximately 50% by 2050 from 31% as per the 2011 Census. However, this development is taking place at the cost of urban green spaces.
This can be discerned from the following:

• Densification-prompted activities such as increased demand for housing are causing a rapid loss and fragmentation of both public and private green space.
• Activities such as infill development and redevelopment of land coupled with the real estate boom and skyrocketing land values force people to go in for maximising economic benefits with little or no priority to green space.
• Lack of necessary policy support and funds make urban green space-related issues insignificant and inefficacious.
• Official laxity in the strict implementation of regulations related to the maintenance of green cover and lack of concern among citizens for the same further worsens the situation.

To accommodate the increasing pressure on resources owing to rapid urbanisation, focus on urban green spaces is critical in creating inclusive, resilient, and sustainable cities due to the following reasons:

• Mental health and well-being: Depressive disorders are a major cause of disability in middle and high-income countries. Access to green spaces offers a place for people to relax, exercise, and socialize and improves their mental well-being. This reduces the need to treat anxiety and mental health conditions, thus mitigating economic costs while increasing the human resource output.
• Providing ecosystem services: Urban green spaces contribute to the resilience of cities in the face of climate change, as they provide important ecosystem services:
  • Almost 70% of all greenhouse emissions are generated from an urban built environment. Green vegetation in cities would lead to carbon sequestration.
  • It reduces the Urban Heat Island effect by providing shade and by cooling the air through the process of evapo-transpiration and reduces people’s vulnerability to heat stroke.
  • Trees and shrubs can improve air quality by removing both particulate matter and gases from the air thereby reducing the overall pollution, a major cause of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
  • Green spaces reduce the risk of flooding and improve water quality in streams, lakes and rivers.
• Biodiversity conservation: The disappearance of the ‘house sparrow’ is a clear indication of the harmful effects of urbanization, thus, establishing that green spaces provide a habitat for biodiversity.
• Economic benefits: Creation, maintenance, and management of green space generate employment opportunities while inviting investment in local economies and better valuation of commercial and residential properties.

Thus, there is a need to reorient our strategy of urban planning and management to accommodate the green vision and action. Green spaces are essential for ensuring a delicate balance between development and the environment. The importance of green space has also been highlighted in the Sustainable Development Goal 11 dealing with sustainable cities and communities to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.