Fast Fact Library

The Landscape Performance Series Fast Fact Library is a searchable collection of landscape benefits derived from published research. Each includes a citation and links to the full article when available.

This resource is intended to showcase landscape’s multiple and sometimes surprising environmental, economic and social benefits and to help you make the case for sustainable landscape solutions in your community, with your clients, or on Capitol Hill.

Know of additional research that would make a compelling addition? Help build the database by sending your suggestions to email hidden; JavaScript is required.

Vicarelli, Marta, Karen Sudmeier-Rieux, Ali Alsadadi, Aryen Shrestha, Simon Schütze, Michael M. Kang, Madeline Leue, David Wasielewski, and Jaroslav Mysiak. “On the cost-effectiveness of Nature-based Solutions for reducing disaster risk.” Science of The Total Environment 947 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174524

Topics

Economic

Kumar, Prashant, Sisay E. Debele, Soheila Khalili, Christos H. Halios, Jeetendra Sahani, Nasrin Aghamohammadi, Maria de Fatima Andrade, Maria Athanassiadou, Kamaldeep Bhui, Nerea Calvillo, Shi-Jie Cao, Frederic Coulon, Jill L. Edmondson, David Fletcher, Edmilson Dias de Freitas, Hai Guo, Matthew C. Hort, Madhusudan Katti, Thomas Rodding Kjeldsen, Steffen Lehmann, Giuliano Maselli Locosselli, Shelagh K. Malham, Lidia Morawska, Rajan Parajuli, Christopher D.F. Rogers, Runming Yao, Fang Wang, Jannis Wenk, and Laurence Jones. “Urban Heat Mitigation by Green and Blue Infrastructure: Drivers, Effectiveness, and Future Needs.” The Innovation 5, No. 2 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xinn.2024.100588

Topics

Temperature & urban heat island, Wetland, Trees, Green wall

Makram, Omar M., Alan Pan, Jay E. Maddock, and Bita A. Kash. “Nature and Mental Health in Urban Texas: A NatureScore-Based Study.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 21, no. 2 (2024): 168. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21020168

Topics

Health & well-being, Trees, Green communities, Mental wellness

Mata, Luis, Amy K. Hahs, Estibaliz Palma, Anna Backstrom, Nikolas Johnston, Tyler King, Ashley R. Olson, Christina Renowden, Tessa R. Smith, Blythe Vogel, and Samantha Ward. “Large Positive Ecological Changes of Small Urban Greening Actions.”  Ecological Solutions and Evidence 4, no. 3 (August 2023). https://doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.12259

Topics

Habitat creation, preservation & restoration, Habitat quality, Populations & species richness, Native plants, Biodiversity, Urbanization

Tessler, Michael, Felix J. David, Seth W. Cunningham, and Emily M. Herstoff. Rewilding in Miniature: Suburban Meadows Can Improve Soil Microbial Biodiversity and Soil Health. Microbial Ecology 85, 1077–1086 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-023-02171-4

Topics

Populations & species richness, Native plants, Biodiversity, Conservation, Restoration

Cohen, Deborah A., Meghan Talarowski, Bing Han, Deborah R. Young, Sarah Eng, and Thomas L. McKenzie. 2022. “Playground Design and Physical Activity” American Journal of Preventative Medicine 64, no. 3: 326-333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2022.10.012

Topics

Recreational & social value, Health & well-being, Play equipment, Active living, Play

Wei, Dandan, Andrew Reinmann, Luke D. Schifer, and Roisin Commane. High resolution modeling of vegetation reveals large summertime biogenic CO2 fluxes in New York City. Environmental Research Letters 17, 12 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aca68f.

Topics

Carbon sequestration & avoidance, Trees

Donovan, Geoffrey H., Jeffrey P. Prestemon, Demetrios Gatziolis, Yvonne L. Michael, Abigail R. Kaminski, and Payam Dadvand. “The association between tree planting and mortality: A natural experiment and cost-benefit analysis.” Environment International 170 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2022.107609.

Topics

Health & well-being, Trees, Complete streets, Health care

Jarvis, Ingrid, Hind Sbihi, Zoë Davis, Michael Brauer, Agatha Czekajlo, Hugh W. Davies, Sarah E. Gergel, Martin Guhn, Michael Jerrett, Mieke Koehoorn, Lorien Nesbitt, Tim F. Oberlander, Jason Su, and Matilda van den Bosch. “The influence of early-life residential exposure to different vegetation types and paved surfaces on early childhood development: A population-based birth cohort study.” Environment International 163 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2022.107196

Topics

Health & well-being, Trees

Schwartz, Sam. (April 2022). “Asphalt Art Safety Study: Historical Crash Analysis and Observational Behavior Assessment at Asphalt Art Sites.” Bloomberg Philanthropies. https://assets.bbhub.io/dotorg/sites/43/2022/04/Asphalt-Art-Safety-Study.pdf

Topics

Safety, Transportation, Public art, Traffic calming, Complete streets

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