Articles
TREE IN THE CITY IN GUADELOUPE
Article number
496_48
Pages
383 – 392
Language
Abstract
In the development and restructuring process of guadeloupean cities which has been under way for the last few years, trees tend to become a tropical subject for municipalities.
Nevertheless, it seems that very often urban landscaping obeys to imported models which do not reflect or are not inspired by Guadeloupean‚s natural, social and cultural environment.
Furthermore, trees in our cities are too often ill-treated (unadapted planting and management) and considered as a scenery to hide poor urban façades, whereas they should be a key element of the habitat.
As a result, urban landscapes look neglected and lifeless where the trees don‚t play an important quantitative and qualitative role.
The richness and diversity of natural landscapes or traditional gardens have disappeared.
Therefore, individuals find difficulty in relating and respecting trees in an urban environment, for the following reasons: firstly, trees are part of an organizational scheme different from the idea that people have of their own environment and secondly, Guadeloupean people never considered their outside space as their own since they never owned land in the past.
Especially in an urban environment, as there is no urban culture as such in Guadeloupe.
On the other hand, there is definitively a <<tree culture>> in Guadeloupe.
Already in Caribbean gardens, then in colonial gardens, in cabin gardens and nowadays in urban private gardens, trees have always played the part of link between guadeloupeans and their close environment.
In the end, at a time when cities of the archipelago keep spreading and increase in density and when individualism is a more and more common value, the management and enhancement of urban open spaces often the favorite meeting places for people, is fundamental.
In this regard, trees can be useful tool, but, in order to be able to ensure their management in the long run, they must be combined with expertise and with a thorough knowledge of the population you‚re planting for.
Nevertheless, it seems that very often urban landscaping obeys to imported models which do not reflect or are not inspired by Guadeloupean‚s natural, social and cultural environment.
Furthermore, trees in our cities are too often ill-treated (unadapted planting and management) and considered as a scenery to hide poor urban façades, whereas they should be a key element of the habitat.
As a result, urban landscapes look neglected and lifeless where the trees don‚t play an important quantitative and qualitative role.
The richness and diversity of natural landscapes or traditional gardens have disappeared.
Therefore, individuals find difficulty in relating and respecting trees in an urban environment, for the following reasons: firstly, trees are part of an organizational scheme different from the idea that people have of their own environment and secondly, Guadeloupean people never considered their outside space as their own since they never owned land in the past.
Especially in an urban environment, as there is no urban culture as such in Guadeloupe.
On the other hand, there is definitively a <<tree culture>> in Guadeloupe.
Already in Caribbean gardens, then in colonial gardens, in cabin gardens and nowadays in urban private gardens, trees have always played the part of link between guadeloupeans and their close environment.
In the end, at a time when cities of the archipelago keep spreading and increase in density and when individualism is a more and more common value, the management and enhancement of urban open spaces often the favorite meeting places for people, is fundamental.
In this regard, trees can be useful tool, but, in order to be able to ensure their management in the long run, they must be combined with expertise and with a thorough knowledge of the population you‚re planting for.
Publication
Authors
M. Joyau
Keywords
Urban tree, stress, anthropology, development
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