Green Cities and Good Health

1. Green Cities & Good Health
Austin State of the Urban Forest Summit
Dr. Kathleen Wolf
College of the Environment
University of Washington
January 2011

4. Ecosystem Services Typology
Ecosystem Services
Millennium
Ecosystem
Assessment
2005

5. Image courtesy of the Center for Urban Forest Research

6. Image courtesy of the Center for Urban Forest Research

7. Image courtesy of the Center for Urban Forest Research

8. Image courtesy of the Center for Urban Forest Research

9. Why are city trees &
urban greening important?
human health,
functioning, &
well-being

10. Finding that study . . . . . .

11. Research Reviews
first phase:
June 2010
summaries
complete:
Dec 2010
additional
products
http://www.greenhealth.washington.edu

12. Research Reviews
sponsors:
University of Washington
USDA Forest Service, U&CF Program
NGO partners

13. a treasure trove!

14. 1,706 articles
% distribution

15. City Trees & Nature
Active Living

16. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
1985
(*BMI !30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14%
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.

17. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
2008
(*BMI !30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
doubling of U.S.
obesity rate
since 1980s
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29% !30%
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.

18. Age-adjusted % of adults aged !20 years who are obese, 2007
CDC’s Division of Diabetes Translation. National Diabetes Surveillance System
available at http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/statistics MMWR 58:1259-1263, 2009

19. majority of Americans not active enough
goal-30 minutes per day of moderate activity
to reduce risk factors for chronic diseases
"(heart, stroke, cancer, diabetes)
significant costs to national health services"

24. parks, open spaces & trails

27. Nature, Human Health &
Walkable Neighborhoods
! Outcomes: Elderly People & Walking
! less illness
! lower mortality rate
! Environments: Neighborhood Streets (Tokyo)
! tree - lined
! parks
Takano, Nakamura, Watanabe. 2002.
Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health#

28. 1,706 articles
% distribution

29. City Trees & Nature
Community Economics
! Residential real estate values -
3-7% with trees in yard
! Residential real estate values -
5-20%, proximity to natural open space
! Commercial property rental rates - 7%
! Improved consumer environments in business
districts - 9-12% product spending

31. Kaplan, R. 1993. Landscape
and Urban Planning."

32. the
better
office
cubicle!
bottom line =
$$ benefits of trees & nature

33. Trees & Retail Environments Research

34. Trees & Shopper Environments Research
• Research Questions •
trees and visual quality?
trees and consumer behavior?
trees and product pricing?
partners: U of Washington, NGOs, business organizations
funded by USDA Forest Service

35. Image Categories (sorted by ratings)
Pocket Parks"
mean 3.72"
(highest)
Scale : 1=not at all,
5=like very much,
26 images
Full Canopy"
mean 3.63

36. Enclosed
Sidewalk
3.32
Intermittent"
Trees"
2.78

37. No Trees
mean 1.65"
(lowest)"
(high - 3.72)

38. 1. Place Perceptions"
• Place Character"
• Interaction with Merchants"
• Quality of Products
2. Patronage Behavior"
• travel time, travel distance"
• duration & frequency of visits"
• willingness to pay for parking" Place Marketing
Relationship
3. Product Pricing" Marketing"
• higher willingness to pay for all
types of goods"
• higher in districts with trees – 9-12%"

49. ALPHA:
Awaji Landscape Planning & Horticulture Academy

50. typical
retail street
in urban
Japan

52. Namba
Parks,
Osaka
view from
nearby
hotel

53. interior
retail space
ground level

54. small plazas,
retail entry

55. passive nature
experiences

56. Namba Parks: retail success &
nature experience benefits

59. www.naturewithin.info

60. Research Reviews
first phase:
June 2010
summaries
complete:
Dec 2010
additional
products
http://www.greenhealth.washington.edu

61. a treasure trove!

62. Nature & Psych Development
children’s play & imagination

63. ! http://www.treeclimbing.jp/

64. ! physically disabled & tree climbing!

67. hospitals: healing gardens

68. Elders & Horticulture Therapy

70. 1

71. NIRS
14 NIRS 49(3) P241 2007

73. Community
Resilience
collaborative
resource
management
Elinor
Ostrom

74. Namba
Parks, Osaka
engineered
urban
greening

75. Green Roof - Chicago City Hall

76. Nature & Livable Cities!

79. The High Line :: June 2009

80. NUCFAC 2009 Annual Report
Trees & Nature Benefits
• messages • health • quality of life •
• community advantage • public values •

81. www.naturewithin.info