What is the benefit of this?
This way, not only can you save money that could go to help our Defenders, but it also:
- helps cities adapt to climate change: grass that is rarely mowed performs its cooling function better, helps retain rainwater and humidifies the air more effectively. This way, we get more benefit from the same area of grass – cleaner air, more coolness and moisture with lower maintenance costs;
- supports biodiversity. Today, urbanized areas can provide important support for the preservation of populations. Even rare species can live in the city. For example, in Lviv, there are carpenter bees and Podalirius butterflies, listed in the Red Book of Ukraine. Areas where a variety of wildflowers bloom, rich in nectar and pollen, support pollinators. Green fragments are eco-corridors places of life and movement of wildlife species;
- are more environmentally friendly. Mowing the grass twice a year instead of eight times means a significant reduction in fuel and lubricants that pollute the air and contribute to climate change. When, if not in wartime, should special attention be paid to saving so that all available resources work as hard as possible for victory. In addition, frequent mowing also creates significant noise pollution in the city;
- the city is greener. Longer periods of drought and higher temperatures in summer lead to drying out of the grass. Frequent mowing exacerbates the problem – land not protected by tall grass dries out faster, and plants have less resources to survive dry periods. Therefore, where grass is mowed too often, it turns yellow and dries out much faster, and therefore can no longer provide ecosystem services – purify the air, moisten, protect the soil from wind erosion and beautify the city. With frequent mowing, lawn grass can remain green only if it is regularly watered. In our conditions, in the vast majority of green areas, this is not rational and impossible;
- species diversity adds resilience to green areas. Areas with a large number of species are more resilient to climate change. Diverse grasses can be supported and preserved, in particular, by giving species time to mature and sow seeds. Otherwise, we lose the diversity of annual and biennial species that reproduce exclusively by seeds.
We know that introducing changes, even if they are very important and necessary, is not always easy. And for many, uncut grass is not a sign of poor care. We offer a new look at the wild nature of cities and see the beauty of colorful patches of urban diverse grasses.
We call on city services to take a more rational and optimal approach to supporting the quality of life of residents, preserving nature, and using funds more optimally in times of war.
