Environmental Science
Greenbelts: Containing Urban Sprawl and Preserving Ecosystems
Quick fact
London's greenbelt, established in 1938, covers over 500,000 hectares—more than the city itself—and has famously helped limit urban sprawl for decades.
Why this is interesting
Imagine a city that is like an ever-expanding blob of concrete and buildings. Now imagine a ring of green—farms, forests, and parks—that stops it. How does that ring work, and does it really preserve nature?