You’ll be surprised to find some of these!
Years and years ago, in the northeastern state of Meghalaya in India, the indigenous Khasi people came up with an idea to grow bridges out of trees. Meghalaya is home to one of the wettest places on Earth and the rainfall lashes the state every year. So, bridges that wouldn’t be destroyed by downpour were essential—and the solution was found in nature. The roots of the rubber trees were twisted and tied to shape them as bridges—it would take 10-30 years for them to be formed and they would grow stronger with time. The first account of living root bridges is said to be a century old, and these are a popular attraction, especially the double-decker root bridge in Cherrapunji.
Decades after this ingenuity, we’re still looking at nature to inspire us. Urban cities—often called concrete jungles—are finding ways to encourage biodiversity, improve green cover, and offer a chance to live better. If you can’t manage a camping trip in the forests or a getaway to the mountains (or India, for that matter) every few weeks, turn to these places in cities around the world that have a unique perspective on modern-day living. We’re talking rooftop farms, green walls, and vertical forests.