Trager MicroForest Project

Nature-based solutions, such as greening interventions, could protect human health from adverse effects of climate change. There is extensive evidence to support that one aspect of nature, greenness in the form of leaf area, is conducive to human health. Those who live in greener areas have lower levels of stress, depression, insulin resistance, diabetes and stroke. All cause cancer and cardiovascular mortality as well as increased longevity. Furthermore, many studies have shown that socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals tend to derive greater benefit from improved access to urban greenery.

Greenness may also increase human resilience independent of pollution and temperature. Higher neighborhood greenness has been linked to lower stress, better cognitive function, higher levels of physical activity and lower risk of obesity. It has been posited that spending time in nature could directly reduce mental fatigue and activate the parasympathetic nervous system to influence emotional health. In addition, plants emit compounds as part of their self-protection and communication physiology. These compounds have been shown in several human studies to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Exposure to these plant volatile compounds may decrease mental fatigue, induce arterial relaxation and improve cognitive performance and mood. 

Although urban greenery provides many benefits, it is particularly critical to climate adaptation as it can reduce heat and lower air pollution in the urban microclimate. Plants can reduce ambient temperature via transpiration, a process that involves moving water from the ground through the roots to the stems, leaves and/or flowers where it evaporates and cools the surrounding air.

The Trager MicroForest Project will create a blend of dense forest and accessible public space. Research, prototyping and design development with a host of partners and collaborators will inform novel approaches to how we bring intense vegetation into an urban environment while creating a safe and inviting public space.