NbS Key Facts” refers to evidence-based information about the benefits, features and outcomes associated with nature-based solutions (NbS) to address environmental, societal and financial challenges. These facts include quantifiable data, statistics and information related to the effectiveness and impact of specific NbS, and how they contribute to overall environmental sustainability.
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Displaying 201 - 250 of 274
| Definition | Priority Themes | Ecosystems | Target Sector | Societal challenges | Country | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0,5°C is the maximal (and very localised) air cooling effect in Parisian streets, during the 2003 heatwave, generated by covering all flat roofs in Paris and its suburbs with irrigated green roofs. | Sustainable urban and regional transformation | Urban ecosystems | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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France | https://librairie.ademe.fr/ged/5604/recueil-rafraichissement-urbain-011… |
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| In the Netherlands, in autumn, a wall’s surface temperature drops by 1.2°C after covering with climbers placed directly on the wall and by 2,7°C when placed on a structure at a distance from the wall. | Sustainable urban and regional transformation | Urban ecosystems | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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Netherlands | https://librairie.ademe.fr/ged/5604/recueil-rafraichissement-urbain-011… |
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| In Hiroshima, the maximum value of the cooling effect measured above the river, in the hottest moments, was 5°C. The cooling effect is felt up to 100 m from the river bank. | Sustainable urban and regional transformation | Urban ecosystems | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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Japan | https://librairie.ademe.fr/ged/5604/recueil-rafraichissement-urbain-011… |
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| In Lisbon, the maximum value of the cooling effect measured over the Tagus river was 6 to 7°C, at the hottest moments. The cooling effect is felt up to several hundred metres from the river bank | Sustainable urban and regional transformation | Urban ecosystems | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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Portugal | https://librairie.ademe.fr/ged/5604/recueil-rafraichissement-urbain-011… |
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| Restored areas have contributed to increased carbon sequestration in sustainably managed grasslands and newly created wetlands. Salt meadows can sequester from 2.4 to 8 tCO2/ha/year, coastal dunes from 1.3 to 3.1 tCO2/ha/year, and ephemeral reedbeds from 4.7 to 5.4 tCO2/ha/year. By comparison, grasslands can sequester 0.2 to 1 tCO2/ha/year, and trees 5.6 to 14.8 tCO2/ha/year, depending on density and growth rate. Across all project areas, average carbon sequestration has risen from 0.399 tCO2/ha/year to 0.405 tCO2/ha/year, and should reach 0.501tCO2/ha/year by 2030. |
Biodiversity enhancement and ecosystem restoration | Coastal, shelf and open ocean | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
|
France | https://www.geosoc.fr/publication/geologues/sommaires-et-resumes.html |
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| The removal of hard points (riprap, grey infrastructure) can help reduce erosive sediment dynamics at the scale of hydrosedimentary cells. A study of the reconnection of the downstream polder at Mortagne (France) showed an altimetric gain of 70 cm to 1.50 m between 1999 and 2021, as did the reconnection of certain basins on the Certes estate (France), affected by an average annual accretion rate of 3.5 cm/year. | Biodiversity enhancement and ecosystem restoration | Coastal, shelf and open ocean | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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France | https://www.geosoc.fr/publication/geologues/sommaires-et-resumes.html |
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| In view of the cost and maintenance of defence works, flexible management solutions are often more economical than coastline fixation schemes in the medium term. By 2050, for the Vieux Salins d'Hyères and Lancieux sites, the costs of work and maintenance in the adaptation scenario are sometimes even almost 3 times lower than those of coastline fixation structures. | Sustainable finance, investment and just transition | Coastal, shelf and open ocean | NBS investors and entrepreneurs |
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France | https://www.geosoc.fr/publication/geologues/sommaires-et-resumes.html |
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| The reconnection of the northern part of Île Nouvelle offered very high water purification potential (estimated at €2.5 million between 2000 and 2020) through the development of reed beds and salt meadows, as well as fishing potential linked to the hosting and feeding of several fish species (€1.72 million). | Biodiversity enhancement and ecosystem restoration | Coastal, shelf and open ocean | NBS investors and entrepreneurs |
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France | https://www.geosoc.fr/publication/geologues/sommaires-et-resumes.html |
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| According to estimates carried out on the Orne estuary over a 30-year period, if the marsh were to be completely reopened to the sea, the economic benefits linked to regulating services (CO2 sequestration, low-water levels, etc.) would be much greater (€10M compared with €2.7M) than if the current dike were reinforced, while market supply services (agricultural production) would be lower (€2.9M compared with €5.7M). | Biodiversity enhancement and ecosystem restoration | Coastal, shelf and open ocean | NBS investors and entrepreneurs |
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France | https://www.geosoc.fr/publication/geologues/sommaires-et-resumes.html |
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| A cost/benefit analysis was carried out in parallel with the ADAPTO project. It explores the economic costs and benefits associated with three scenarios up to 2050: “Suffer” (no adaptation measures), “Adapt” (flexible management measures) and “Resist” (hard structures). Whereas the “Resist” scenario requires costly structures in terms of investment (between €2.4 and €16.8 million) and maintenance (between €3.1 and €21.7 million over 30 years), the “Adapt” scenario quickly proves its worth, with much lower costs (€840,000 in investment, then €770,000 in maintenance over 30 years). It also increases the attractiveness of the site, thanks to the return of the beach and the maintenance of a promenade. | Biodiversity enhancement and ecosystem restoration | Coastal, shelf and open ocean | NBS investors and entrepreneurs |
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France | https://www.geosoc.fr/publication/geologues/sommaires-et-resumes.html |
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| Following the reconstruction and protection of the dunes, a biodiversity characteristic of embryonic dune habitats has become established. The biodiversity monitoring study carried out on the site clearly shows the expansion of embryonic dune vegetation (+49%), testifying to the success of the renaturation operations on the Vieux Salins d'Hyères site, France. | Biodiversity enhancement and ecosystem restoration | Coastal, shelf and open ocean | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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France | https://www.geosoc.fr/publication/geologues/sommaires-et-resumes.html |
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| The social perception study on the renaturation project at the Vieux Salins d'Hyères, France, shows that 74.5% of respondents are satisfied with the work, but only 50% know the reasons for it (survey of 184 site users). | Biodiversity enhancement and ecosystem restoration | Coastal, shelf and open ocean | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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France | https://www.geosoc.fr/publication/geologues/sommaires-et-resumes.html |
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| Results showthat 71.4% of the PAs (Protected Areas) reduced forest loss in them. Without their establishment, an additional 77,857 km2 forest within their boundaries would have been lost between 2000 and 2015. | Biodiversity enhancement and ecosystem restoration | Forest | National and EU policy-makers |
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Not found | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969721010627 |
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| Green roofs reduce stormwater runoffs, which may include heavy metals such as Fe, Zn, Cu, and Al. Large amounts of metals can be upheld (92% of Cd, 99% of Pb, 97% of Cu, and 96% of Zn), especially in summer. | Zero pollution | Urban ecosystems | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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Not found | ||
| In the planning and construction of urban Green and Blue Infrastructure, a balance between energy and water should be maintained. This fact was proved, for example, estimating the total runoff mitigation and regulation of urban temperature provided by 200,000 trees alongside Spain streets using the i-Tree Eco tool. This study revealed that trees in Barcelona, during 2015, were able to regulate an amount of water equivalent to 52,668 m3 for runoff and 840,408 m3 of surface waters. | Sustainable urban and regional transformation | Urban ecosystems | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
|
Spain | ||
| The infiltration-type rain garden reduced both the volume and frequency of runoffs by more than 90% and sized 7.5% of the drainage area. These findings indicated that it is feasible to produce a suitable yield and withstand the purpose of rain gardens in decreasing urban runoff loss into the sewer system. | Sustainable food systems (including soil and agriculture) | Urban ecosystems | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
|
Australia | ||
| The harvesting of ecosystem services from rainwater in India was estimated. Researchers observed that, having a rooftop garden area of 21 m2, water irrigation supported the production about 3 and 1 kg of tomatoes and lettuce, respectively. | Sustainable food systems (including soil and agriculture) | Urban ecosystems | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
|
India | ||
| A full-scale (840 m2), concave green roof (which consists of a vegetable garden, flower garden, and a fish pond) was compared to a normal roof are compared on the #35 building in Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea. To investigate the potential effects of urban runoffs (flood) mitigation, a concave green roof (GR) system was developed which stores and retains rainwater in urban soils. In this concave GR system, 140 m2 area displayed the impacts of runoffs (flood) mitigation in the form of reducing storage of rainwater (6.7 tones), delay in peak time (3 h) and quality of peak flow (56%). To examine the mitigation effects of urban heat island (UHI), a temperature different of about 24°C was observed in comparison with normal roofs. For producing food in urban agriculture, GR (420 m2 area) was managed for more than 30 households. | Sustainable food systems (including soil and agriculture) | Urban ecosystems | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
|
South Korea | ||
| Soares et al. evaluated the cost and benefits of street trees by using i-Tree model. The result of this study indicated that each tree intercepted 4.5 m3 rainfall annually, and this service was valued at $48. Further, the value of energy savings was $6.20/tree, and the effects of urban street trees on building energy performance were based on software simulations which incorporated climate, building, and shading effects. | Sustainable urban and regional transformation | Urban ecosystems | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
|
United States | ||
| Orsini et al. inquired about the production capability of rooftop farming in Bologna, Italy, finding that rooftop farming could provide more or about 12,000 t/year of vegetables to Bologna, satisfying 77% of the city dwellers’ requirements. | Sustainable food systems (including soil and agriculture) | Urban ecosystems | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
|
Italy | ||
| Lee et al. demonstrated that for the greater municipal area (51 km2) of Seoul, South Korea, an urban agriculture implementation would decrease by 11.7 million kg carbon dioxide emissions annually. This offset amount is the same value of annual carbon dioxide sequestered by 10.2 km2 of 20-year-old oak forests and 20 km2 of pine forests. | Sustainable food systems (including soil and agriculture) | Urban ecosystems | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
|
South Korea | ||
| Niachou et al. stated that the Green Roofs in Greece decrease the energy consumed for cooling by 2–48% depending on the space covered by the GR with indoor temperature decreasing up to 4 K. Meanwhile, in different climates, approximately the same results were estimated with maximum cooling saving by 4%, heating saving by 9%, and total 3% energy saving with Green Roof retrofit. | Sustainable urban and regional transformation | Urban ecosystems | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
|
Greece | ||
| Soil erosion and nutrient losses occurred both in sole-crop and agroforestry plots during the five-year experiment. However, contour planting with fruit trees and fodder grass reduced soil and nutrient losses by 20–84% in comparison with sole crops. | Sustainable food systems (including soil and agriculture) | Cropland | Natural resource managers and land owners |
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Vietnam | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880922004728 |
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| A meta-analysis by Muchane et al. (2020) of the impact of agroforestry systems on soil loss due to erosion in the humid and sub-humid tropics concluded that agroforestry can reduce soil erosion rates by about 50% compared with sole-crop cultivation. | Sustainable food systems (including soil and agriculture) | Cropland | Natural resource managers and land owners |
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Vietnam | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880922004730 |
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| The two agroforestry systems evaluated showed significant reductions in erosion-derived losses compared with the annual sole crops at the sites over the five-year study period. The vegetation cover ranged from 40% to 50% during the rainy season in both the fruit-maize-AF and fruit-coffee-AF systems, which could slightly reduce soil erosion. | Sustainable food systems (including soil and agriculture) | Cropland | Natural resource managers and land owners |
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Vietnam | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880922004731 |
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| Agroforestry systems showed SOC, N, P and K losses that were 21–78%, 20–82%, 24–82% and 22–84% lower, respectively, than those in the sole crop systems. | Sustainable food systems (including soil and agriculture) | Cropland | Natural resource managers and land owners |
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Vietnam | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880922004732 |
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| Research in the Ciliwung River, Indonesia and Kelantan River, Malaysia confirmed the effect of forests on peak flow attenuation—although the effect remained limited for large precipitation events. In a modelling study, Asdak et al. (2018) found that the reduction of forested area from 58 to 34% in the Citarum watershed resulted in the increase of peak flow by around 14%. Abdulkareem et al. (2018) investigated four river basins in Malaysia and found that (observed) peak flow increased by 8–39% from 1984 to 2002 due to forest cover reducing by 19–59%. | Climate change adaptation, mitigation and climate resilience | Forest | National and EU policy-makers |
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Indonesia | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00267-021-01467-w |
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| In a modelling study in the Tamontaka river basin, Philippines, Buisan et al. (2019) reported that forest conversion to agriculture by 22% would increase peak flow by about 10%. | Climate change adaptation, mitigation and climate resilience | Forest | National and EU policy-makers |
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Philippines | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00267-021-01467-w |
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| Masumoto et al. (2008) established that paddies around the Tonle Sap lake could store up to 17% of the flood volume, and irrigation systems up to 42% in the lower lands, for a large flood event. | Climate change adaptation, mitigation and climate resilience | Cropland | National and EU policy-makers |
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Cambodia | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00267-021-01467-w |
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| Trinh and Chui (2013) found that a combination of green roof and bioretention systems can return peak runoff to preurbanisation levels, while Wang et al. (2018) found that up to 75% could be retained in bioretention cells. Peak flow was also reduced by 63% in a study by Goh et al. (2017); and by 33% in a study by Yau et al. (2017) (10-year average recurrence interval). | Sustainable urban and regional transformation | Urban ecosystems | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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Singapore | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00267-021-01467-w |
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| Two constructed wetlands in Thailand provided nitrogen removal rates of 38 and 86%, and biological demand reduction by 72 and 87%. | Zero pollution | Inland wetland | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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Thailand | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00267-021-01467-w |
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| Kefi et al. (2018) found that the implementation of bioretention systems could reduce inundated areas by 59% and losses by 29% in an urban watershed in Vietnam. | Climate change adaptation, mitigation and climate resilience | Urban ecosystems | National and EU policy-makers |
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Vietnam | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00267-021-01467-w |
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| Agus et al. (2006) through a replacement cost approach, valued the retention service of paddies in the Citarum watershed, Indonesia, at USD 92.67 million per year or 51% of the total price of rice produced in the field. | Sustainable finance, investment and just transition | Cropland | NBS investors and entrepreneurs |
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Indonesia | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00267-021-01467-w |
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| Ro et al. (2020) valued the water treatment service of a wetland in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, at about USD 3 million per year. | Sustainable finance, investment and just transition | Inland wetland | NBS investors and entrepreneurs |
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Cambodia | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00267-021-01467-w |
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| In Brazil, Gomes et al. modeled how agroforestry coffee systems with 50% shade cover can reduce mean temperatures and maintain 75% of the area suitable for coffee production in 2050. | Sustainable food systems (including soil and agriculture) | Cropland | Natural resource managers and land owners |
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Brazil | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877343522000963 |
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| Reyes et al. modeled the growth of winter durum wheat monoculture compared with a walnut-based alley cropping system using IPCC projections split into three scenarios: past (1951–1990), present (1991–2030), and future (2031–2070). Their models found that even as heat, drought, and nitrogen stresses increased twofold from past to future scenarios, these stresses were reduced by 20–35% in the agroforestry system with medium-size trees present. | Sustainable food systems (including soil and agriculture) | Cropland | Natural resource managers and land owners |
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Not found | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877343522000965 |
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| Thorlakson and Neufeldt reported that farmers practicing agroforestry in Kenya experienced 25% greater food security than conventional farmers during a prolonged drought. | Sustainable food systems (including soil and agriculture) | Cropland | Natural resource managers and land owners |
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Kenya | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877343522000966 |
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| There is also some local evidence that synergies exist between ecosystem health and socioeconomic development. Following the implementation of a water diversion project in the Heihe River Basin, the deterioration of ecosystems downstream was substantially alleviated, sustaining both ecological health and socioeconomic development. Cao et al. estimated that the returns on investment from the Three North Shelter Forest System Project, the Natural Forest Conservation Program, and the Grain-for-Green Program were 29.3, 328.9, and 77.0%, respectively. | Sustainable finance, investment and just transition | Rivers, lakes and ponds | NBS investors and entrepreneurs |
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China | ||
| In a study conducted by Kondo et al., it was found that a five-percentage-point increase in tree canopy might result in a 302-death decrease every year, worth USD 29 billion in Philadelphia. Moreover, a 10% increase in canopy over the city was linked to a USD 36 billion reduction in mortality. If Philadelphia achieves its objective of raising tree canopy cover to 30% by 2025, 403 premature adult deaths (i.e., 3% of total mortality) might be avoided annually. | Zero pollution | Urban ecosystems | National and EU policy-makers |
|
United States | ||
| Previous studies have shown that green roofs and green walls are effective to reduce pollution in streets. Green walls, for instance, have been shown to reduce NO2 levels at the street level by up to 40% and PM10 levels by 60%, according to researchers at Lancaster University. | Sustainable urban and regional transformation | Urban ecosystems | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
|
United Kingdom | ||
| Investments in NbS can deliver environmental and social benefits and go hand-in-hand with COVID-19 recovery, and studies have also shown they can deliver significant economic benefits. For example, the restoration and rehabilitation of grasslands and woodlands have been shown to have benefit to cost ratios of up to 35 and internal rates of return of 20–60 percent. Another study found that in Viet Nam the restoration of 12,000 ha of mangroves has been estimated to save USD7.3 million/year in dyke maintenance, and in Fiji, an assessment showed that watershed management options are at least twice as cost-effective compared to ‘hard’ engineering options. | Sustainable finance, investment and just transition | Grassland | NBS investors and entrepreneurs |
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Vietnam | https://www.asiapacificadapt.net/adaptationforum2020/wp-content/uploads… |
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| Across 4 sections of Philadelphia, 4,436 vacant lots totalingmore than 7.8 million square feet (about 725,000m2) were greened from 1999 to 2008. The authors showed that vacant lot greening was associated with consistent reductions in gun assaults across all 4 sections of the city (P < 0.001) and consistent reductions in vandalism in 1 section of the city (P < 0.001). They also showed that vacant lot greening was associated with residents reporting less stress and more exercise in select sections of the city (P < 0.01). | Sustainable urban and regional transformation | Urban ecosystems | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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United States | https://www.annualreviews.org/docserver/fulltext/publhealth/42/1/annure… |
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| A number of studies were conducted around street trees and health in New York, United States. Lovasi et al. found that an increase in tree density of 1 standard deviation [(SD) 343 trees per km2] was associated with a lower prevalence of asthma [relative risk (RR), 0.71 per SD of tree density; 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.64–0.79)] but not with hospitalizations for asthma [RR = 0.89 per SD of tree density; 95% CI (0.75–1.06)] in children in New York. | Sustainable urban and regional transformation | Urban ecosystems | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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United States | https://www.annualreviews.org/docserver/fulltext/publhealth/42/1/annure… |
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| Children living in areas with more street trees were more physically active, and those living in areas with more park access had smaller skinfolds. A higher density of street trees (at the 75th versus 25th percentile) was associated with a 12% lower prevalence of obesity [95% CI for the prevalence ration (PR): 322 Nieuwenhuijsen 0.79–0.99]. | Sustainable urban and regional transformation | Urban ecosystems | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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United States | https://www.annualreviews.org/docserver/fulltext/publhealth/42/1/annure… |
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| Reid et al. (34) found higher reporting of “very good” or “excellent” health for respondents with the highest, compared with the lowest, quartiles of trees [RR = 1.23, 95% CI (1.06–1.44)] in adults. Findings imply that higher exposure to vegetation, particularly trees outside of parks, may be associated with better health. | Sustainable urban and regional transformation | Urban ecosystems | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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United States | https://www.annualreviews.org/docserver/fulltext/publhealth/42/1/annure… |
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| In Toronto, Canada, Kardan et al. found that having 10 more trees in a city block, on average, improved health perception in ways comparable to an increase in annual personal income of $10,000 and moving to a neighborhood with a $10,000 higher median income or being 7 years younger. They also found that having 11 more trees in a city block, on average, decreased cardiometabolic conditions in ways comparable to an increase in annual personal income of $20,000 and moving to a neighborhood with a $20,000 higher median income or being 1.4 years younger. | Sustainable finance, investment and just transition | Urban ecosystems | NBS investors and entrepreneurs |
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Canada | https://www.annualreviews.org/docserver/fulltext/publhealth/42/1/annure… |
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| Tsai et al. found that street tree cover was consistently protective for healthy weight status. Every 10% increase in street tree cover within 2,000 m was associated with 18% lower odds of being overweight or obese [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.82, 95% CI (0.81–0.84) in Phoenix; 0.82, 95% CI (0.81 – 0.83) in Portland]. When compared with residents with less than 10% street tree cover within 2,000 m, those with greater than 10% tree cover had at least 13% [AOR = 0.87 for Portland, 95% CI (0.81–0.92)] lower odds of being overweight or obese. | Sustainable urban and regional transformation | Urban ecosystems | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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United States | https://www.annualreviews.org/docserver/fulltext/publhealth/42/1/annure… |
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| In São Paulo, Brazil, Moreira et al. found that the number of street trees in the regional governments (OR = 0.937) and the number of parks within 1 km (OR = 0.876) were inversely associated with a diagnosis of hypertension. | Sustainable urban and regional transformation | Urban ecosystems | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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Brazil | https://www.annualreviews.org/docserver/fulltext/publhealth/42/1/annure… |
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| Dadvand et al. found that residential proximity to forests was associated with 39% and 25% lower relative prevalence of excessive screen time and overweight/obesity, respectively, but was not associated with current asthma in children in Sabadell, Spain. In contrast, living close to parks was associated with a 60% higher relative prevalence of current asthma but had only weak negative associations with obesity/overweight or excessive screen time. | Sustainable urban and regional transformation | Urban ecosystems | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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Spain | https://www.annualreviews.org/docserver/fulltext/publhealth/42/1/annure… |
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| Andrusaityte et al. found that every additional hour of time spent in parks was associated with decreased sedentary behavior and a lower risk of poor health, and less time spent in a park was associated with poorer general and mental health among 4–6-year-old children in Kaunas, Lithuania. | Sustainable urban and regional transformation | Urban ecosystems | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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Lithuania | https://www.annualreviews.org/docserver/fulltext/publhealth/42/1/annure… |