USE:POSITIONS with Cecil Konijnendijk

The Nature Based Solutions Institute serves as a global think tank for evidence-based urban greening. Established to be an internationally recognised institute for research, development, training, and policy advice within the fields of urban forestry and nature-based solutions, the organisation works with governments and international bodies to develop strategies that advance sustainable urban environments worldwide.
 

As part of our use:positions series, we interviewed Cecil Konijnendijk, Co-Founder of the Nature Based Solutions Institute. We asked Cecil to share his expertise on how cities can implement evidence-based greening strategies and the transformative potential of the 3+30+300 rule for creating more sustainable, liveable urban environments.

 

You’ve worked in urban forestry for over 3 decades. What is your focus now at the Nature Based Solutions Institute? How do you bring research, policy, and local action together in your approach to greener cities?

At the Nature Based Solutions Institute we want to serve as a think tank for the evidence-based greening of cities and towns across the world. We work with local governments but also with regional and national authorities, as well as international bodies like the Nordic Council of Ministers, European Commission, and United Nations. A lot of our work relates to ‘packaging’ some of the latest research and good practices and integrating these into strategies and policies that can drive urban greening programs forward. While helping with the development of strategies and policies we also run engagement events with local residents and community groups. Recently we’ve also started working more with businesses, such as developers and builders. It is essential that urban greening is done through a partnership approach. It is also important to develop ambitious long-term visions and greening guidelines that are widely supported by partners.

 

Why do trees and urban forests matter for creating sustainable, liveable cities today? What are some key benefits of integrating green spaces into urban planning - especially when it comes to climate adaptation and public health?

We have of course known for a long time that trees and urban forests more broadly make key contributions to liveable cities. In cities like Amsterdam, the role of trees in providing shade and promoting health was already recognised as early as in the 17 th century. Today we have a vast body of research and knowledge available on the many good things trees do for us. They help us cool our cities, for example, which then also impacts our health and wellbeing. Cooling by trees can even save lives, as studies have shown. In greener cities with more canopy cover we are also more physically active, more inclined to interact with our neighbours and have lower levels of poor mental health. As research advances, we also know more about the mechanisms of urban forest benefits: what types of trees and green support different aspects of health and climate adaptation the best in different contexts? This is really important knowledge for urban planning.

 

You introduced the 3+30+300 rule as a simple guideline for making cities greener. Could you briefly explain what this rule is and why you think it’s been so widely adopted? What, in your view, makes it such an effective tool for urban planners and policymakers?

For a long time, urban planners and other decision makers have called for clear, evidence-based guidelines for urban greening. The 3+30+300 rule or principle tries to meet this call by combining evidence-based metrics for visible green, climate or surrounding green, and recreational green, with emphasis on trees and canopy cover. The principle calls for at least three mature trees to be visible from every home, school, workplace, or place of care. We should all live in a neighbourhood with at least 30% canopy cover. Finally, in line with recommendations by the World Health Organization, we should have a high-quality, publicly accessible green space within a 300 metres’ walk or bike ride from where we live. The principle has become widely adopted across the world, probably because of its simplicity, grounding in some of the latest research, and measurability. There is a good rhythm to it: 3, 30, 300.

 

What are the most urgent actions local governments and city leaders should take right now to support urban forests and other nature- based solutions? Can you share any promising strategies you’ve seen, or common pitfalls to watch out for?

As I mentioned before, we need strong, long-term visions and strategies for urban forests and urban green spaces. Ideally these also have clear targets and use specific guidelines and metrics, like 3+30+300. Moreover, strategies should be developed by broad partnerships of key public, private, and civic society stakeholders. Nobody can solve the greening challenge alone. Without clear, measurable targets and associated resources and responsibilities, many strategies and policies will have limited impact. We also need to focus on making real changes on the ground, for example securing more space for large trees, developing greener neighbourhoods with higher tree canopy cover, and stimulating local residents to green their own homes and streets. Sensitivity to local context in terms local ecosystems and cultural preferences is required. Let’s also showcase innovative practices and replicable examples of local urban greening, so that these can inspire communities elsewhere.

 

About Cecil Konijnendijk

From Utrecht, The Netherlands, Cecil co-leads the Nature Based Solutions Institute, a think tank for the evidence-based greening of cities. Cecil has held full and visiting professorships in Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Hong Kong, and Sweden. He has advised, national and local governments in more than 30 countries, as well as international organisations such as FAO and UNECE, on the formulation and implementation of green space and urban forestry policies and programs. His books include ‘The Forest and the City: the cultural landscape of urban woodland’ (2nd edition in 2018) and ‘Rethinking urban green spaces’ (2024). In 2021 he launched a new evidence-based guideline for urban greening, the so- called 3+30+300 rule, which is now used by municipalities, regional governments, and organisations across the world. Cecil is passionate about building meaningful relationships between people and nature to create better urban places.

 

© Yosr Hmam Spit

 

For further information:

• read his books 'The Forest and the City: the cultural landscape of urban woodland' and 'Rethinking Urban Green Spaces'
• watch Cecil’s talk at TEDxVarese 'Greening our Cities: the 3:30:300 rule for urban harmony'
• the Nature Based Solutions website

 

Visit our Urban Nature webpage to access case studies on initiatives being implemented in cities around the world to preserve and promote Urban Nature.