Green Equals Healthy? Towards an Evidence Base for High Density Healthy City Research

Abstract

The doctrine that urban greenery is positively associated with physical and mental health is widely acknowledged in landscape and urban planning, but is not underpinned by specific research findings. This paper examines how the association between “greenery” and health has developed through the history of landscape and urban design, and sets out the need for clear evidence based research as the foundation of credible arguments for the provision of more and better quality greenery in the city. We discuss the many hypothetical causal pathways between increased urban greenery and improving public health, and from a broad literature review we highlight recent research studies that have found associations between them. Directions for future research are suggested.

Keywords

Urban Green Space / Greenery / Public Health / Walking / Landscape / Urban Planning

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2014 Higher Education Press