Reseach Question:
How did post World War II rebuilding influence green spaces and reforestation in modern day Berlin?
Research Summary:
My research question stems from having spent a good amount of time in Berlin. While I was there, I noticed a lot of green parks and areas within the city, which is pretty unusual for big cities. Based on background knowledge I have gained throughout years of studying German, I know that Germany had a great deal of infrastructure to rebuild post World War II. Wanting to gain an understanding of how Berlin rebuilt with green spaces and reforestation in mind, led me to my research question. An article by Ralph Buehler, states that Germany was rebuilding at a time when sustainability was able to be factored in (Buehler, 2020). This insight helps me understand he timeline when Germany was rebuilding and how it correlates to sustainable movements. Another insight that I gained from my research was about reforestation policies. WWII destroyed a large amount of forest and tree in Berlin and the government decided to make policies to help restore the lost forestry (Stilgenbauer &McBride, 2010).
Draft Survey:
https://forms.gle/yvBYcwsMTP6SB3R48
Bibliography
Buehler, R., & A. J. (2020, July 8). How Germany became Europe’s green leader: A look at four decades of sustainable policymaking. The Solutions Journal. Retrieved February 3, 2023, from https://thesolutionsjournal.com/2016/02/22/how-germany-became-europes-green-leader-a-look-at-four-decades-of-sustainable-policymaking/
Stilgenbauer, J., & McBride, J. R. (2010). Reconstruction of Urban Forests in Hamburg and Dresden after World War II. Landscape Journal, 29(2), 144–160. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43323881
Huda Al Bunnia February 18, 2023
Hi Josephine! Thank you for sharing your research question and summary! You have a strong interest in understanding the relationship between post-World War II rebuilding, green spaces, and reforestation in modern-day Berlin.
To clarify, it seems like you’re interested in exploring how the rebuilding efforts after World War II influenced the development of green spaces and reforestation in modern-day Berlin, particularly regarding sustainability efforts.
Personally, your post made me reflect on how the historical context of a place can have a lasting impact on its current state. It’s interesting to see how policies and actions taken in the past can influence a city’s present-day environmental practices.
You know, it might be worth looking into the specific policies and initiatives that were put in place to promote sustainability and reforestation in Berlin after World War II, and how those efforts have evolved over time.
Finally, I have a question to consider: How have the green spaces and reforestation efforts in Berlin contributed to the city’s overall environmental sustainability and livability? and are there any challenges or limitations to these efforts that still need to be addressed?
Sheikha Alhashmi February 19, 2023
Thank you Josephine for sharing your research summary! I find your research question to be interestingly important; the environmental aspect of the aftermath of WWII is often left out, and green spaces are definitely not discussed enough when examining the rebuilding and restoration processes.
As you pointed out, Berlin having a wealth of green parks and grounds is quite unusual for big, industrialized cities, especially considering that Berlin was nothing but rubble after WWII. Therefore, it makes total sense to raise the question of how and when Berlin started to incorporate sustainability into its rebuilding journey.
Your observation and ability to connect the dots and come up with such a crucial research question made me wonder how I can utilize my knowledge to do the same. Thus, your post helped me realize that the way UAE was transformed from a desert to a green mass is also an interesting case worth analyzing!
You could approach your research question by reflecting on Berlin’s history of urban environmental policies. In my history classes, I learned that the expansion of accessible green space existed in Berlin long before WWII. Therefore, I recommend that you look into the forces that shaped the historical development of Berlin’s green space during the early 20th century in order to trace Germany’s timeline of sustainable movements.
On another note, I had a look at your survey and the nature of some questions you listed captured my attention. Why do you think it’s relevant to ask Berliners about their views on the effectiveness of reforestation policies? And how do you plan to incorporate their subjective opinions into research?
Hamda Al Shamsi February 19, 2023
Thank you, Josephine, for taking the time to share about your project, as this is an intriguing research project. You made an interesting observation about how Berlin was rebuilt with green spaces after World War II, which shows how passionate you are about the environment.
From what I have read, you seem interested in discovering how Berlin was built to have green spaces after World War II. Given that Berlin was severely damaged from heavy bombing during World War II, it is fascinating how it was rebuilt to be a green city where there is a wealth of green spaces, parks, and grounds.
I believe that due to how sustainable and green the city of Berlin is, it has influenced its citizens to become more sustainable in order to protect their environment. Many Berliners lead sustainable lifestyles by preferring to use bicycles rather than cars and seeking healthier and more sustainable products and services, from food to consumer goods.
Lastly, after reading the questions on your survey, do you think that the responses would be influenced by Berliners’ attitudes and beliefs toward the environment? Considering that most of them have adopted a sustainable way of living.
AbdulRahman Eslam Shoaib February 20, 2023
Thank you for your concise yet thorough post Josephine, it was very eye-opening especially coming from a person who has lived there first-hand, I can tell the time you spent there aided you in writing this post and definitely adds to your credibility.
I actually agree with you in the fact that it is quite rare to see a lot of greenery in big cities, Berlin being a great example of this as the capital of Germany. I was quite surprised to find out from you that it is indeed common there on the contrary to the norm. It was also very interesting to find out that they were able to factor in sustainability in their rebuilding after the war, I was intrigued and after researching into this a bit more I actually also found out that apparently sustainability wasn’t the only good thing that came out of the rebuild for them. There was also export of local products, reduction in unemployment and increased food production. Perhaps the improvement of agriculture in general fueled the building of green areas.
While you were there, were these green areas popular amongst the locals? As in were they crowded areas where people actually spent time and admired? I’d love to know.
Alex Behring December 14, 2023
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