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Enhancing Human Well-Being through Urban Forestry: Strategies for Planning, Policies...
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Enhancing Human Well-Being through Urban Forestry: Strategies for Planning, Policies and Management

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Urban Forestry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2025 | Viewed by 7473

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jinguang Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
The College of Landscape Architecture, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
Interests: urban forestry; green space exposure; health; planning
Prof. Dr. Bing Zhao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Landscape Architecture, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
Interests: landscape and architecture planning; green interventions; nature exposure
Dr. Zhaowu Yu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Songhu Road 2005, Shanghai 200438, China
Interests: urban ecology; exposure ecology; urban climate; environmental remote sensing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Urban forestry provides a wide range of ecosystem services. Through the regulation of ecosystem services, urban forestry can improve an ecosystem’s health by means of “eco-buffering”, such as cleaning the air, managing stormwater, and mitigating heat stress. The cultural ecosystem service of urban forestry can provide urban recreational amenities to encourage physical activities, increase social cohesion, and thus promote physiological and psychological health. Substantial evidence suggests that exposure to urban forestry might be beneficial for promoting health behaviors (e.g., physical activities), and these positive health effects may be amplified during a societal crisis. Hence, enhancing urban forestry exposure was considered as a nature-based solution for advancing urban resilience and human health. However, before urban forestry can be fully integrated into health-oriented planning and policies, comprehensive research that is better aligned with the needs of scientists, environmentalists, epidemiologists, ecologists, urban planners, and policy makers must be conducted.

This Special Issue will provide a comprehensive analysis of the critical role of urban forestry in improving the physical, mental, and social well-being of city dwellers. We seek scholarly articles and in-depth reviews that explore the complex relationship between urban green spaces and public health. Our focus covers a wide range of topics, including the strategic planning and implementation of urban green spaces, the ecological benefits of urban forests, strategies to mitigate urban heat islands, and the socioeconomic impacts of urban greening initiatives. This Special Issue aims to highlight innovative planning and management approaches that capitalize on the health benefits of urban forests, address current challenges such as climate change and rapid urbanization, and ensure equitable access to urban green spaces. By bringing together insights from different academic fields, this Special Issue aims to provide valuable recommendations to policy makers, urban planners, and environmental advocates on how to integrate urban forestry into urban development plans, ultimately improving the quality of life in diverse urban communities.

Dr. Jinguang Zhang
Prof. Dr. Bing Zhao
Dr. Zhaowu Yu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • urban forestry
  • green space exposure
  • public health
  • urban heat islands
  • green injustice
  • climate change
  • air pollution
  • ecosystem services
  • nature-based solutions
  • exposure ecology

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 23500 KiB  
Article
Benefits of Various Urban Green Spaces for Public Health Based on Landscape Elements: A Study of Public Visual Perception
by Kaiyuan Yi, Xiaoyan Shi, Meng Wei and Zhe Zhang
Forests 2025, 16(4), 648; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16040648 - 8 Apr 2025
Viewed by 344
Abstract
Urbanization has amplified the critical role of urban green spaces in enhancing public health and well-being. While natural landscape elements are known to influence physiological and psychological states through visual perception, their mechanistic pathways remain underexplored, and existing studies often focus on singular [...] Read more.
Urbanization has amplified the critical role of urban green spaces in enhancing public health and well-being. While natural landscape elements are known to influence physiological and psychological states through visual perception, their mechanistic pathways remain underexplored, and existing studies often focus on singular environments. This study examines how specific landscape elements affect public health and proposes optimization strategies for urban green space planning. Focusing on five green space types in Kunming (forests, wetlands, urban parks, street green spaces, and residential green spaces), this study employed PSPNet-based semantic segmentation to quantify landscape elements and conducted human–subject experiments using paired visual stimuli. Physiological metrics and psychological questionnaires were analysed to assess health outcomes. Key findings reveal that forests and urban parks, rich in natural elements (Plant and Earth and Mountain Elements), outperformed artificial-dominated spaces (residential/street green spaces) in physiological and psychological restoration. Artificially designed green spaces achieved benefits comparable to natural counterparts when mimicking natural element composition. Notably, aggregated indices (naturalness, artificiality, and enclosure) showed negligible correlations with health outcomes, underscoring the primacy of specific elements. The Plant and Earth and Mountain Elements mediated physiological recovery, while minimizing the Building and Artificial Element and enhancing the Sky Element exposure improved attention coherence. Excessive Water Element perception impaired heart rate stabilization, while psychological restoration mechanisms were multifaceted but were consistently linked to higher natural element proportions. These results provide actionable guidelines for optimizing visual proportions of natural elements in urban green space planning and management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enhancing Human Well-Being through Urban Forestry: Strategies for Planning, Policies and Management)
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28 pages, 36390 KiB  
Article
Scenic Influences on Walking Preferences in Urban Forest Parks from Top-View and Eye-Level Perspectives
by Jiahui Zou, Hongchao Jiang, Wenjia Ying and Bing Qiu
Forests 2024, 15(11), 2020; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15112020 - 16 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1020
Abstract
Urban forest parks offer valuable spaces for walking activities that benefit both physical and mental health. However, trails in current park designs are often underutilised, and the scene layout does not fully meet the preferences of walkers. Therefore, understanding the connection between scene [...] Read more.
Urban forest parks offer valuable spaces for walking activities that benefit both physical and mental health. However, trails in current park designs are often underutilised, and the scene layout does not fully meet the preferences of walkers. Therefore, understanding the connection between scene characteristics and walking preferences is essential. This study aimed to develop an ensemble protocol to assess the role of scene characteristics in walking preferences, using Shanghai Gongqing Forest Park as an illustrative example. A walking preference heat map was created using a combination of crowdsourced GPS data. The scene characteristics were quantified using panoramic photographs, drone orthophotos, computer vision, and deep learning techniques. Taking spatial dependence into account, the key findings include the following: (1) From an overhead view, the shortest paths, waterbody density, and recreational facility selection positively influenced walking preferences, while secondary asphalt trails had a negative effect. (2) At the eye level, aesthetically pleasing landscape elements, such as flowers and bridges, attracted more pedestrians, while closed trails were less favoured. (3) Eye-level features explained 43.5% of the variation in walking preference, with a stronger influence on walking preference compared to 22.4% for overhead features. (4) Natural elements were generally more significant than artificial ones; the feature ranking of significant impact was flowers > NACHr1000 > visual perception > water body density > bridge > SVF > retail > entertainment > asphalt. This study proposes a flexible protocol that provides urban forest park managers and planners with practical tools to create a more walker-friendly environment and more accurate trail alignment, as well as a solid empirical basis for assessing the use of urban forest parks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enhancing Human Well-Being through Urban Forestry: Strategies for Planning, Policies and Management)
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21 pages, 5358 KiB  
Article
Developing a Model to Study Walking and Public Transport to Attractive Green Spaces for Equitable Access to Health and Socializing Opportunities as a Response to Climate Change: Testing the Model in Pu’er City, China
by Chengdong Xu, Jianpeng Zhang, Yi Xu and Zhenji Wang
Forests 2024, 15(11), 1944; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15111944 - 5 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1040
Abstract
Green space is not always equitably located in cities, and the attractiveness of green space varies, leaving some residents with easy access to high-quality parks and others with little or no access or access to under-maintained parks. To remedy these inequities, this study [...] Read more.
Green space is not always equitably located in cities, and the attractiveness of green space varies, leaving some residents with easy access to high-quality parks and others with little or no access or access to under-maintained parks. To remedy these inequities, this study identified attractive and well-utilized recreational green spaces and developed a model to measure the likelihood of using these recreational green spaces (PSG). The goal was to reduce the travel time and cost of walking or using public transportation to get to green spaces and to design all green spaces to be attractive. The data come from the perspective of the city’s public transportation system and residents’ personal choices. First, the attractiveness of recreational green spaces was calculated from big data on the geolocation of cell phones, measuring the level of provision of recreational green spaces and the trip rates of urban residents. After that, the travel cost to reach recreational green space in residential areas was calculated according to residents’ travel habits. Finally, the probability of all recreational green spaces in the city being used was calculated by combining the population size of residential areas. Taking Pu’er City in China as an example, the attractiveness and utilization rates of recreational green spaces were calculated by PSG, and the results of the study showed that the probability of residents choosing to use the recreational green spaces that are closer to the residential area, with a larger population capacity, and with a higher attractiveness is the highest. The results of the study help promote equitable access to health and socialization opportunities for individuals and communities, thereby promoting environmental justice to help mitigate and respond to climate change. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enhancing Human Well-Being through Urban Forestry: Strategies for Planning, Policies and Management)
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18 pages, 7463 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Three Indoor Viewing Models and On-Site Experiences to Assess Visual Landscape Perception in Urban Forests
by Jinyu Zhang, Xiuli Diao, Zhe Zhang, Jin Wang, Zijing Lu, Yu Wang, Yanxia Mu and Wenyue Lin
Forests 2024, 15(9), 1566; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15091566 - 6 Sep 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1361
Abstract
Contacting forests in different ways and conducting public perception evaluations of forests are important ways to evaluate forest construction. In order to explore the differences between on-site and manual post-collection indoor evaluations in forest landscape surveys, we combined subjective evaluation and objective indicator [...] Read more.
Contacting forests in different ways and conducting public perception evaluations of forests are important ways to evaluate forest construction. In order to explore the differences between on-site and manual post-collection indoor evaluations in forest landscape surveys, we combined subjective evaluation and objective indicator monitoring (eye movement characteristics, physiological indicators) based on different forest observation scales. We compared and analyzed the suitability of the following four visual approaches: on-site observation, manual collection, followed by indoor viewing normal photos (NP), videos (VD), and virtual reality panoramas (VR), in terms of public preference, perception, and psychological emotion. The results showed the following: (1) Compared with the on-site evaluation, the three indoor visual approaches (NP, VD, and VR) showed no significant difference in “landscape beauty” and “spatial perception”. VD also showed no significant difference in “landscape perception”, “seeing”, and “plant color preference” and had the strongest substitution for site evaluation. (2) With the exception of small-scale landscapes, in which on-site evaluation showed no substitutability, for the rest of the landscape scales, each of the three indoor visual approaches showed substitutability for on-site evaluation to varying degrees. (3) When conducting physiological and psychological surveys, watching videos and VR are more ideal. In terms of eye tracking, VR is closest to on-site observation. Practice shows that video was closer to on-site observation in most landscape preferences and perceptions. VR was suitable for presenting public visual behavioral characteristics, and NP showed some advantages in landscape beauty and spatial perceptions. The findings of the study can provide a scientific basis for the selection of visual approaches in future landscape evaluation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enhancing Human Well-Being through Urban Forestry: Strategies for Planning, Policies and Management)
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12 pages, 4290 KiB  
Article
The Annual Effect of Landscapes on the Indoor Thermal Environment in Residential Areas—A Case Study in Southern Hunan
by Jiayu Li, Bohong Zheng, Xiao Chen and Lan Wang
Forests 2024, 15(7), 1099; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15071099 - 26 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1444
Abstract
Landscape elements are crucial to the quality of the built environment. Thermal comfort is one of the important paths through which landscape elements affect the quality of the built environment. Most studies investigate the impacts of the landscape on the outdoor thermal environment, [...] Read more.
Landscape elements are crucial to the quality of the built environment. Thermal comfort is one of the important paths through which landscape elements affect the quality of the built environment. Most studies investigate the impacts of the landscape on the outdoor thermal environment, while ignoring the impacts on the indoor environment. A residential area in Chenzhou, a typical city having a hot summer and cold winter climate, was taken as an example to reveal the effect on the indoor thermal environment of landscapes. The annual distribution of the indoor thermal environment was analyzed with the “Envi-met+IDW” model, which was created to evaluate the annual thermal impact. Analytical results show that, from the perspective of the annual cycle, the camphor tree has the best performance in regulating the indoor thermal environment, followed by water and the palm. Manila grass has a very weak impact on indoor thermal comfort throughout the year. Camphor trees, water, and palm extend the “acceptable temperature” by 523 h, 416 h, and 388 h respectively. However, the camphor tree also has the strongest cooling effect on indoor environments during winter, increasing the “heating demand temperature” by 289 h. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enhancing Human Well-Being through Urban Forestry: Strategies for Planning, Policies and Management)
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18 pages, 6101 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Green Stormwater Infrastructures on Urban-Tier Human Thermal Comfort—A Case Study in High-Density Urban Blocks
by Haishun Xu, Jianhua Liao and Yating Hong
Forests 2024, 15(5), 862; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050862 - 15 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1404
Abstract
Green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) is a key approach to greening and cooling high-density blocks. Previous studies have focused on the impact of a single GSI on thermal comfort on sunny days, ignoring rainwater’s role and GSI combinations. Therefore, based on measured data of [...] Read more.
Green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) is a key approach to greening and cooling high-density blocks. Previous studies have focused on the impact of a single GSI on thermal comfort on sunny days, ignoring rainwater’s role and GSI combinations. Therefore, based on measured data of a real urban area in Nanjing, China, this study utilized 45 single-GSI and combination simulation scenarios, as well as three local climate zone (LCZ) baseline scenarios to compare and analyze three high-density blocks within the city. Among the 32 simulations specifically conducted in LCZ1 and LCZ2, 2 of them were dedicated to baseline scenario simulations, whereas the remaining 30 simulations were evenly distributed across LCZ1 and LCZ2, with 15 simulations allocated to each zone. The physiological equivalent temperature (PET) was calculated using the ENVI-met specification to evaluate outdoor thermal comfort. The objective of this research was to determine the optimal GSI combinations for different LCZs, their impact on pedestrian thermal comfort, GSI response to rainwater, and the effect of GSI on pedestrian recreation areas. Results showed that GSI combinations are crucial for improving thermal comfort in compact high-rise and mid-rise areas, while a single GSI suffices in low-rise areas. In extreme heat, rainfall is vital for GSI’s effectiveness, and complex GSI can extend the thermal comfort improvement time following rainfall by more than 1 h. Adding shading and trees to GSI combinations maximizes thermal comfort in potential crowd activity areas, achieving up to 54.23% improvement. Future GSI construction in high-density blocks should focus on different combinations of GSI based on different LCZs, offering insights for GSI planning in Southeast Asia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enhancing Human Well-Being through Urban Forestry: Strategies for Planning, Policies and Management)
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