Given Western Australia’s drying climate and projected population growth, the selection of waterwise plants and water efficient design are crucial elements in all landscaping projects.
The need for urban infill to accommodate the rapid influx of people to Western Australia is resulting in high residential density and an increase in hard surfaces as opposed to planted areas. This appears to reduce irrigation requirements but the environmental benefits of maintaining and/or increasing plant life are numerous including:
- **CO₂ absorption and oxygen production
- **cooling via shading
- **reduction of salinity and erosion
- **absorption of pollutants
- reduction of evaporation by decreasing total exposed soil areas
- assisting passive heating and cooling of homes
- green belts have major social and health benefits
- **filtering storm water run off
- **reduction of noise pollution
Increasing plant volumes and incorporating a range of species, increases the diversity of a landscape, encouraging the creation of micro-climates and habitats for wildlife.
Deforestation has also had an observable impact on reducing rainfall, so redressing this via re-vegetation and incorporating trees into landscapes is vital.
