@theconversation.com THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Planting more trees in urban environments is a simple, affordable and effective way to improve health. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

 

Keeping people in cities healthy, especially in poorer neighbourhoods, is challenging. One simple, effective and scientifically proven prescription for better health is planting more trees.

The idea of planting more trees in urban environments is so simple, affordable and effective that it’s hard to understand why we aren’t applying it more urgently, especially with mountains of evidence to show how much good trees can do.

Environmental epidemiologist Mark J. Nieuwenhuijsen provided an easy way to remember how important they are: the 3-30-300 rule, which suggests that for optimal health, everyone should be able to see at least three trees from home, live under a neighbourhood canopy of at least 30 per cent tree cover and within 300 metres of a green space of at least one hectare.

 

Source from: https://theconversation.com/bringing-forests-to-the-city-10-ways-planting-trees-improves-health-in-urban-centres-233629