A recent study evaluated eight prominent cities—Melbourne, Sydney, New York, Denver, Seattle, Buenos Aires, Amsterdam, and Singapore—against the “3+30+300 rule” for urban greenery. This guideline suggests that individuals should see at least three trees from their residence, work, or school; live in neighborhoods with a minimum of 30% tree canopy cover; and have a park within 300 meters. The study found that only Singapore met these criteria comprehensively, highlighting a significant shortfall in urban tree coverage in the other cities.
The “3+30+300 rule,” introduced by Dutch urban forestry expert Professor Cecil Konijnendijk in 2022, is based on extensive research linking urban nature to human health and well-being. Cities in Europe, the United States, and Canada have begun adopting this measure in their urban forestry strategies to enhance residents’ quality of life.
In the study, while most buildings across the eight cities met the requirement of having views of at least three trees, they fell short on neighborhood canopy cover. Notably, 75% of buildings in Singapore met the 30% canopy benchmark, and 45% in Seattle did as well. In contrast, only 3% of buildings in Melbourne and 17% in central Sydney had adequate canopy cover, despite a higher percentage having views of at least three trees.
Access to parks within 300 meters was also inconsistent among the cities. Singapore and Amsterdam scored well in this aspect, providing residents with accessible green spaces. However, cities like Buenos Aires and New York City lagged, indicating a need for improved urban planning to ensure equitable access to parks.
The study underscores the importance of urban tree coverage in promoting public health, mitigating heat, and enhancing overall well-being. The findings suggest that many global cities need to invest more in urban forestry to meet the 3+30+300 standard, which could lead to healthier and more sustainable urban environments.
Implementing the 3+30+300 rule could serve as a practical benchmark for cities aiming to improve their green infrastructure. By increasing tree canopy cover and ensuring accessible parks, urban areas can provide significant health benefits to their residents, including reduced rates of depression, anxiety, obesity, and heat-related illnesses.
Source: ScienceAlert
