The “3-30-300 Rule”
What if a rule governing trees, parks and green space was the key to happiness? So suggests a study conducted by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health. After interviewing more than 3,000 people living in Barcelona, they found that the people who lived closest to green spaces were also those whose mental health was least impacted.
To reach this conclusion, the authors of the study used the ‘3-30-300’ rule. Theorized by Spanish forest researcher Cecil Konijnendijk in 2021, this rule is based on the following principle: see three trees from your home, live in a neighborhood with at least 30% tree canopy cover, and live within 300 meters of a green space, such as a park or a forest.
Of the sample of people involved in the study, only 4.7% had the privilege of living in a place that met all three criteria. And, it is precisely this share of individuals who had the best mental health. Conversely, 22% of those surveyed lived somewhere meeting none of the three criteria.
“There is an urgent need to provide citizens with more green space. We may need to tear out asphalt and plant more trees, which would not only improve health, but also reduce heat island effects and contribute to carbon capture. Any initiative that leads to a greener city will be a step forward. The key message is that we need more and faster greening,” explains study lead author, Mark Nieuwenhuijsen.
Whether for easing loneliness, promoting conviviality or relieving stress, research highlighting the benefits of regular contact with nature on our physical and mental health is legion. If you live in the city and your home is unfortunately not located in an area that complies with the ‘3-30-300’ rule, it could be beneficial to take regular walks in the nearest park, or even to indulge in a forest bath!
Vocabulary:
governing – controlling, directing, or ruling how something is done, managed, or decided, “The rules governing the local library require everyone to keep their phones on silent.”
conducted – organized and carried out a particular activity, experiment, or study, “The university conducted a major survey to understand why students leave school early.”
impacted – strongly affected, changed, or influenced by a situation or event, “Public transport was heavily impacted by the thick morning fog.”
conclusion – a final decision, opinion, or judgment reached after looking at all the facts, “After studying all the maps, the hikers reached the conclusion that they were lost.”
theorized – suggested a formal explanation or idea about how something works, which has not yet been fully proven, “The scientist theorized that birds use the earth’s magnetic fields to find their way south.”
principle – a basic truth, rule, or scientific idea that serves as the foundation for a system or belief, “The company operates on the basic principle that the customer is always right.”
canopy – the high, leafy roof formed by the tops of the trees in a forest or neighborhood, “We walked underneath a thick canopy of green leaves that blocked out most of the hot summer sun.”
sample – a small group of people or things selected from a larger population to be tested or studied, “The research team interviewed a diverse sample of voters from across the state.”
privilege – a special advantage, right, or rare opportunity that is given to only a few people, “It was a great privilege to meet the world-famous author after his speech.”
criteria – the standards, rules, or requirements used to judge, score, or decide something, “Excellent writing skills are one of the most important criteria for getting this job.”
precisely – exactly, accurately, or used to emphasize that something is completely correct, “The train arrived at precisely nine o’clock, just like the schedule promised.”
conversely – from an opposite point of view; in a way that is the reverse of what was just said, “Poor nutrition can make you feel weak; conversely, eating fresh vegetables can give you lots of energy.”
surveyed – asked a group of people a specific set of questions to gather information or statistics, “Out of the one hundred students surveyed, eighty said they preferred studying online.”
urgent – needing immediate attention, care, or action because a situation is highly important, “The hospital received an urgent call about an accident on the highway.”
asphalt – a dark, hard, black material used for coating the smooth surfaces of roads and pavements, “The heavy summer heat made the dark asphalt on the road feel incredibly hot.”
heat island effects – the phenomenon where cities trap heat and become much warmer than rural areas due to concrete, roads, and modern buildings, “Planting trees along city streets is an effective way to lower harmful heat island effects.”
carbon capture – the process of catching and storing carbon dioxide gas to prevent it from entering the atmosphere and causing global warming, “Forests act as a natural form of carbon capture because trees pull pollutants out of the air.”
easing – making something less painful, difficult, severe, or stressful, “Listening to soft classical music is excellent for easing anxiety before a big exam.”
conviviality – a friendly, lively, and welcoming atmosphere or quality of being social among people, “The warm lighting and sharing of food created a wonderful feeling of conviviality at the dinner party.”
relieving – removing, reducing, or taking away a painful or unpleasant feeling like stress or pain, “Taking a long hot bath is a great way of relieving muscle pain after running.”
legion – existing in very large numbers; extremely numerous, “The reasons why people fail to learn a new language are legion, but a lack of time is the most common.”
complies with – follows, obeys, or matches a specific rule, law, standard, or requirement, “The new office building completely complies with modern safety regulations.”
beneficial – helpful, useful, or producing a good and positive result, “Regular exercise is highly beneficial for your physical and mental health.”
indulge in – to allow yourself to have, do, or enjoy something special, luxurious, or highly pleasurable, “On Sundays, she likes to indulge in a large slice of chocolate cake after dinner.”