What’s it like living in a tropical “paradise” that has miles of concrete and few trees? Hot is what many people in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, would say—especially its poorest residents. As the city has grown, they’ve been forced to live in densely populated areas lacking vegetation. It’s a serious problem. Trees play a key role in cities, cooling the air around them. (They do this by blocking sunlight and releasing moisture from their leaves, which then evaporates into the air—kind of like sweating.)
Rio is one of South America’s largest cities and most popular tourist destinations. It’s known for its beautiful beaches and views of the Amazon rainforest. But that’s hardly the reality on the unshaded streets of its poorest areas, where temperatures often reach 100°F in summer.
Recently, however, Rio residents have begun committing themselves to making city life cooler by planting greenery.
Individuals have started gardens or installed “green roofs” on their buildings with flowers and plants. Civic groups have filled once-barren hillsides with trees. Now officials are getting involved too. Earlier this year, the city began creating 25 “fresh islands”: groves filled with native tree species.
Alê Roque (above) is helping lead the charge to transform Rio. She teaches young people how to start and tend gardens. Roque says she can already see mini-forests sprouting up in spots where she planted in past years.
“I want to make the world green,” she told a reporter who asked why she was working so hard in the hot sun. “Someone has to do it!”