New research reveals more of the details of how trees provide therapeutic effects for humans.
Alex Hutchinson writes of the larger implications of a new study published by the journal Scientific Reports into the nature of the therapeutic benefits of trees.
A team of researchers in the United States, Canada, and Australia, led by the University of Chicago psychology professor Marc Berman, collected two large data sets from the city of Toronto, according to Hutchinson, "both gathered on a block-by-block level; the first measures the distribution of green space, as determined from satellite imagery and a comprehensive list of all five hundred and thirty thousand trees planted on public land, and the second measures health, as assessed by a detailed survey of ninety-four thousand respondents."
The study's findings: "an additional ten trees on a given block corresponded to a one-per-cent increase in how healthy nearby residents felt." Berman is quoted directly to add perspective:
'To get an equivalent increase with money, you’d have to give each household in that neighborhood ten thousand dollars—or make people seven years younger,' Berman told me.
A discussion of some of the study's subtler details, however, inspires Hutchinson to muse on large questions, like how the findings relate to a theory proposed by William James in the late 19th century about "voluntary" and "involuntary" attention. Berman's study produces a counter point to recent research identifying the negative effects of the urban tree canopy, as well as a chance for Hutchinson to propose a closer attention to the details of Berman's studies for the purposes of public health benefits.
FULL STORY: How Trees Calm Us Down
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
New Forecasting Tool Aims to Reduce Heat-Related Deaths
Two federal agencies launched a new, easy-to-use, color-coded heat warning system that combines meteorological and medical risk factors.
AI Traffic Management Comes to Dallas-Fort Worth
Several Texas cities are using an AI-powered platform called NoTraffic to help manage traffic signals to increase safety and improve traffic flow.
Podcast: Addressing the Root Causes of Transit Violence
Deploying transit police is a short-term fix. How can transit agencies build sustainable safety efforts?
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.