Applying the 3-30-300 Guideline to Evaluate Green Equality in a Medium-Sized Brazilian City

Objective: To analyze the distribution of green areas in Cachoeiro de Itapemirim and its relationship with socioeconomic indicators to understand the impact of urbanization and sustainable management on environmental and social inequalities. Theoretical Framework: The inclusion of green spaces is discussed as essential for reducing pollution and promoting health, but their unequal distribution reflects existing socioeconomic disparities, especially in low-income regions. Method: Google Earth satellite images and ArcGIS 10.8 software were used to map land use, classifying it into arboreal, low-lying, urban, and exposed soil vegetation, using the Maximum Similarity Classification technique. The most recent socioeconomic data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient to identify the relationship between the presence of vegetation and socioeconomic indicators. Results and Discussion: The results show that green areas, although important for the environment and well-being, are not determinants for socioeconomic improvements, highlighting the complex relationship influenced by factors such as public policies and urban infrastructure. Research Implications: The research highlights the need for multifaceted approaches to sustainable urban management, considering not only the distribution of green areas, but also the implementation of effective public policies and improvements in urban infrastructure to reduce socioeconomic inequalities. Originality/Value: The study expands the literature by exploring the distribution of green areas in a medium-sized Brazilian city, analyzing the relationship between environmental sustainability and socioeconomic inequalities, and reinforces the importance of future research that considers multiple urban factors.

Assess the state of public green areas, their importance and influence on environmental quality and living in urban centers is an arduous task considering the conceptual and scientific regarding quantification and data analysis methods divergence. In this study, we aimed to determine two indicators of public green areas relative to the percentage of public green areas (PPGA) and the public green areas index (PGAI) in the urban area of São Carlos, SP. The study area was organized into administrative regions (ARs), using satellite images, topographical maps of 1:10,000 Geographic and Cartographic Institute (1990) and data provided by the Municipality of São Carlos. The results show that public green areas comprise 6.55% of the municipality, with a public green areas index (PGAI) of 18.85 m2/inhabitant, indicating good urban environmental quality when compared to rates of 15 m2/capita for public green areas for recreation, suggested by the Brazilian Society of Urban Forestry. The differences between the administrative regions are concern with situations from 4.16 to 36.30 m2/inhabitant. In this context, it is recommend specific public policies and popular participation in the process of continuous improvement for increasing public green areas in the less favored regions. The Genebrino method applied to indicators of public green areas (GPGA - amount of public green areas divided by population density), showed a commendable goal above 40% for urban environmental quality.

By 2050, nearly 70% of the global population will live in cities (UN, 2018), increasing the demand for urban green spaces. Urban areas are facing increasing risks from climate change, including heatwaves, flooding, wildfires, and growing social inequality, which challenges urban planning and design. Urban forests form the backbone of green infrastructure supporting resilient, equitable, and sustainable cities. Importantly, their cost-effective benefits advance sustainable development, climate action, and biodiversity conservation. Urban forests include all woody and understorey vegetation within and around dense settlements, from cultivated trees in streets, parks, and gardens to self-sustaining stands in remnant and peri-urban woodlands (FAO, 2016). As essential nature-based solutions (Cohen-Shacham et al., 2016), urban forests provide multiple ecosystem services. They help cool urban temperatures, reduce air pollution, enhance soil infiltration, slow stormwater runoff, buffer extreme weather, and support human health (Livesley et al., 2016). They contribute significantly to climate adaptation and moderately to mitigation by reducing the energy demand for cooling (McPhearson et al., 2023). Urban forests also enhance biodiversity by providing habitats and climate refugia at multiple scales (Alvey, 2006). Trade-offs in urban forest benefits, costs, and the impacts of policy interventions, such as those related to measurement, outcomes, or implementation, remain complex (Vogt et al., 2015), but the loss of canopy reduces air quality, biodiversity, and resilience to floods, droughts, pests, and extreme heat (Nowak, 2018). Canopy loss impairs recreation and impacts physical and mental health (Carrus et al., 2015). Because urban forests are inherently dynamic systems, the death or removal of large and mature trees should be anticipated through proactive planning for their replacement, including careful consideration of which species are selected and why. Unequal access drives social-environmental injustice and health inequities, which can be addressed through greenspace expansion, equitable distribution, and better management (Esperon-Rodriguez et al., 2025). Urban forests are increasingly at risk due to significant stewardship gaps. Despite the existence of international management standards, ongoing tree losses result from pests introduced through trade, climate and pollution stress, inadequate legal protections, rapid urban densification, and insufficient maintenance (Esperon-Rodriguez et al., 2022; Paap et al., 2017; Vogt et al., 2015). Planting alone cannot offset accelerated mature tree losses or replace the vital functions these trees provide over their shortened lifespans in urban environments. Closing the stewardship gap demands urgent investment, robust funding, and stronger policy to sustain diverse and resilient urban forests. Urban forests are among the most effective, equitable nature-based solutions available. When protected and resourced, they cool neighborhoods, manage stormwater, store carbon, support biodiversity, and improve health, especially in underserved communities. Yet mature tree loss outpaces replacement amid increasing climate and biological stresses. We urge COP30 policymakers to treat urban forests as essential and critical city infrastructure: safeguard mature trees, set and finance SMART canopy, diversity and access targets, mainstream urban forests in climate and biodiversity plans, and fund long-term operations, monitoring, nursery capacity, and biosecurity. Implementing this visionary action delivers cooler, healthier, more biodiverse, and more equitable cities now and for future generations. MER and MGT led the initiative and drafted the letter. All authors provided feedback, edited, and agreed with the content of the letter. All authors, except MER and MGT, are listed alphabetically. MER received funding from Western Sydney University's Research Theme Program. KDP was supported by the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO, grant 12A0L25N). RMM was supported by a Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (project DE200100649), funded by the Australian Research Council of the Australian Government. JCS received funding from the Danish National Research Foundation (grant DNRF173) and EARTHKEEPER (Global South Biodiversity Leadership Initiative). CS's contribution was funded by the National Research Foundation of South Africa (grant no 84379). We declare no conflict of interest. There are no data associated with the article.

The aim of this study was to estimate associations between environmental variables and obesity in the adult population in a medium-sized Brazilian city. This was a cross-sectional study with individual data from a population-based study and environmental data obtained by direct observation, later georeferenced by the addresses. The sample included 965 adults 20 to 59 years of age, and the study used anthropometric, socioeconomic, demographic, behavioral, and self-rated health data. The outcome variable was obesity, defined as body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30kg/m2. Retail food outlets were classified as: supermarkets and establishments with a predominance of healthy, unhealthy, and mixed foods. Settings for physical activity were categorized as public and private. Characterization of the social environment used the census tracts' per capita income in tertiles and the crime rate. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed according to the generalized estimating equations model. An inverse association was found between density of public and private locations for physical activity and obesity (OR = 0.95, 95%CI: 0.92-0.99; OR = 0.98, 95%CI: 0.97-0.99) in models adjusted by individual and environmental variables. In all the models, the highest per capita income tertile was inversely associated with obesity (p ≤ 0.05). The food environment and crime rates were not independently associated with obesity. These findings suggest that the census tract's income and its environment for physical activity can orient public policies to decrease obesity in this city.

The provisioning of critical ecosystem services to cities of the eastern USA depends on the health and physiological function of trees in urban areas. Although we know that the urban environment may be stressful for trees planted in highly developed areas, it is not clear that trees in urban forest patches experience the same stressful environmental impacts. In this study, we examine chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, leaf traits, foliar nutrients and stable isotope signatures of urban forest patch trees compared with trees growing at reference forest sites, in order to characterize physiological response of these native tree species to the urban environment of three major cities arranged along a latitudinal gradient (New York, NY; Philadelphia, PA; Baltimore, MD). Overall, white oaks (Quercus alba L.) show more differences in chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and leaf traits by city and site type (urban vs reference) than red maples (Acer rubrum L.). The exceptions were δ13C and δ15N, which did not vary in white oak foliage but were significantly depleted (δ13C) and enriched (δ15N) in urban red maple foliage. Across all sites, red maples had higher thermal tolerance of photosynthesis (Tcrit) than white oaks, suggesting a greater ability to withstand temperature stress from the urban heat island effect and climate change. However, the highest average values of Tcrit were found in the Baltimore urban white oaks, suggesting that species suitability and response to the urban environment varies across a latitudinal gradient. Stomatal pore index (SPI) showed inter-specific differences, with red maple SPI being higher in urban trees, whereas white oak SPI was lower in urban trees. These results demonstrate that differences in native tree physiology occur between urban and reference forest patches, but they are site- and species-specific. Data on local site characteristics and tree species performance over time remain necessary to gain insight about urban woodland ecosystem function.

BackgroundPrevious studies conducted in developed countries have suggested associations between perceptions of neighborhood characteristics and weight gain. However, there are few studies regarding the adult perception of the residential environment and overweight in children and adolescents in countries with low and medium income. The aim of the study was to assess the associations between caretakers’ perceptions of environmental characteristics and overweight in themselves and in their children, in a medium-sized city in Brazil.MethodsCross-sectional study was performed with 708 children and adolescents and their caretakers. Anthropometric measurements and a structured questionnaire filled out by caretakers concerning child and family characteristics were completed. For environmental assessment, 408 caretakers answered the Portuguese version of the “Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale” by telephone call. A 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was used in the analysis. Unadjusted prevalence ratios (PR) were calculated, as were PR adjusted for age, gender, family income, and total time of exercise the children or adolescents practiced (from Poisson regression models predicting children’s and adolescents’ overweight), and for age and family income (from Poisson regression models predicting caretakers’ overweight). Statistical significance was defined as a p value <0.05.ResultsAdult perceptions about the absence of sidewalks on most streets (PR = 0.49, 95%CI = 0.42–0.98) and the absence of interesting things to look at (esthetics) in the neighborhood (PR = 0.65, 95%CI = 0.44–0.90) were inversely associated with the prevalence of overweight in the children and adolescents after adjustment. The absence of hills in the neighborhood (PR = 1.24, 95%CI = 1.05–1.45) and the perception of heavy exhaust fumes (PR = 1.26, 95%CI = 1.02–1.56) were directly associated with the prevalence of overweight in the caretakers. Finally, the high speed of traffic on the street (PR = 0.76, 95%CI = 0.63–0.92) was inversely associated with the prevalence of adult overweight.ConclusionsThe results showed, in Brazil, the importance of understanding aspects related to obesogenic environment in the context of medium-sized Brazilian cities.

The process of rapid urbanization is a global phenomenon that exposes the natural landscape to high levels of nitrogen (N) deposition, leading to serious ecological consequences. How does soil biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), a crucial process for replenishing nitrogen in terrestrial ecosystems, respond to urban expansion and consequent N deposition? To address this, we established a transect from the city center to the countryside to capture the urban–rural gradient. Permanent sites were set up along the gradient to encompass urban, suburban, and remote rural forests. A 5-year large-scale field experiment of N addition was conducted to simulate N deposition, aiming to investigate the impact of N deposition on soil BNF along this urban-rural gradient. We found that soil BNF activity was drastically reduced (dropped by 94.2% to 96.5%) in both urban and suburban forests compared with the rural forest without additional N application. Nitrogen addition treatments had no effect on BNF activity in the urban forest, but significantly decreased BNF activity in the rural forest by over 50% with low N addition. Further analysis revealed that reductions in BNF activity were associated with changes in the composition of diazotrophic communities, favoring facultative diazotrophs that are detrimental to soil BNF. Soil acidification was primarily responsible for limiting soil BNF and associated microbes in the urban forest. Overall, our findings indicate that external N inputs primarily pose a threat to soil diazotrophic communities and their N fixation capacity in rural forests, whereas this adverse effect is not persisted in urban forests, thereby improving our understanding of soil behavior and biogeochemical cycles in forest landscapes.

The scientific community recognizes that urban green areas play an important role in supporting human wellbeing. Green spaces are used differently by citizens accordingly to their age, gender, education, or lifestyle. During the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic period in 2020, public green areas were closed due to the limitations imposed by social distancing in Italy and people were forced to stay at home. The aim of this research was to investigate the importance of public green areas in the life of the population in relation to the limits imposed during the first lockdown in Italy. A participatory approach was used, and an online questionnaire focused on people’s perceptions about the public attendance in green areas and their main uses pre-, during, and post-COVID-19 emergency period was administrated randomly to the adult population. The questions focused on the habit, frequency, and duration of park visits and about the individual perceptions and feelings about the green areas close (maximum 200 m distance) to their residences. A total of 3286 responses were obtained and analyzed at national and regional levels (Piemonte). In order to have a general national overview, a basic descriptive statistic was applied using all answers, elaborated in the form of percentages. At the regional level, questions were selected and compared to determine if answers were in related. Statistical analyses with chi-square tests and correspondence analyses were performed. The results indicated that the social distancing period for COVID-19 containment in Italy influenced perceptions about urban green areas. The importance of having outdoor green spaces was highlighted and an increase in interest about urban green areas was observed. Future planning strategies will have to consider the need of designing urban green areas for having more livable cities.

Urban trees and forests provide multiple ecosystem services (ES), including temperature regulation, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity. Interest in ES has increased amongst policymakers, scientists, and citizens given the extent and growth of urbanized areas globally. However, the methods and techniques used to properly assess biodiversity and ES provided by vegetation in urban environments, at large scales, are insufficient. Individual tree identification and characterization are some of the most critical issues used to evaluate urban biodiversity and ES, given the complex spatial distribution of vegetation in urban areas and the scarcity or complete lack of systematized urban tree inventories at large scales, e.g., at the regional or national levels. This often limits our knowledge on their contributions toward shaping biodiversity and ES in urban areas worldwide. This paper provides an analysis of the state-of-the-art studies and was carried out based on a systematic review of 48 scientific papers published during the last five years (2016–2020), related to urban tree and greenery characterization, remote sensing techniques for tree identification, processing methods, and data analysis to classify and segment trees. In particular, we focused on urban tree and forest characterization using remotely sensed data and identified frontiers in scientific knowledge that may be expanded with new developments in the near future. We found advantages and limitations associated with both data sources and processing methods, from which we drew recommendations for further development of tree inventory and characterization in urban forestry science. Finally, a critical discussion on the current state of the methods, as well as on the challenges and directions for future research, is presented.

The present study evaluated the genotoxic effects of the atmospheric air on Tradescantia pallida var. purpurea in urban areas with different intensities of vehicular traffic and in riparian forest fragments in the Sinos River Basin (Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil), considering the influence of climatic conditions prevailing in these environments. Bimonthly, from May 2012 to March 2013, cuttings with flower buds were exposed for 8 h in urban and riparian forest environments in the municipalities of Caraá, Taquara and Campo Bom in the upper, middle and lower sections, respectively, of the Sinos River Basin. Simultaneously, negative controls were made and climatic data were recorded. Micronuclei (MCN) frequencies were determined in young tetrads of pollen mother cells and expressed as MCN/100 tetrads. Significantly higher MCN frequencies were observed in buds exposed in urban and riparian forest environments in Taquara (up to 7.23 and 4.80, respectively) and Campo Bom (up to 4.90 and 4.23, respectively) than in buds exposed in Caraá (up to 2.90 and 2.50, respectively), in the majority of samplings, and in relation to the negative control (up to 1.93) in all months. Over the course of the period monitored, there were significant variations in MCN frequencies at all sampling points, with the exception of the urban environment in Caraá. For the urban environments, relation between the MCN frequency, vehicular traffic and mean temperature was observed. For the riparian forest fragments, there was no association between MCN frequency and climatic factors. Tradescantia pallida var. purpurea can be considered a useful tool to point out areas with increased atmospheric pollution, since the exposure of plants under severe climatic conditions is avoided to minimize their negative influence on the formation of micronuclei.

IntroductionPerthes’ disease is a puzzling childhood hip disorder for which the aetiology is unknown. It is known to be associated with socioeconomic deprivation. Urban environments have also been implicated as...

A vida urbana vem sofrendo profundas mudanças em decorrência das perdas causadas pela pandemia de Covid 19, que segundo a OMS (Organização Mundial da Saúde) é uma disseminação mundial do novo coronavírus, colocando-nos diante de uma reflexão sobre os desafios para nosso futuro comum: Que modelo de planejamento urbano devemos construir, e como as pessoas poderão se apropriar dos espaços públicos e das áreas verde da cidade de forma segura, inclusiva e com qualidade de vida nesse período durante e após pandemia? A pandemia declarada em 11/03/2020 pela OMS colocou em questão e ressaltou a importância das áreas verdes e dos espaços públicos urbanos, em contrapartida ao isolamento social a que todos ficamos submetidos, como a única “vacina” disponível para evitarmos a contaminação. Ao mesmo tempo, esse futuro incerto, nos remete a perguntas e incertezas sobre a maneira como enfrentar a crise climática, e fortalecer a sustentabilidade urbana e a qualidade de vida das pessoas em todo o planeta. A retrospectiva das pandemias que o mundo vem enfrentando, enfatiza a importância das áreas verdes na qualidade ambiental urbana das cidades, tendo como um dos principais elementos de preocupação a saúde das pessoas. Nesse sentido, será necessário propor mudanças no espaço físico e na forma de uso dos espaços públicos e das áreas verdes como forma de ressignificação da vida urbana.

There is a demonstrable association between exposure to air pollutants and deaths due to cardiovascular diseases. The objective of this study was to estimate the effects of exposure to sulfur dioxide on mortality due to circulatory diseases in individuals 50 years of age or older residing in São José dos Campos, SP. This was a time-series ecological study for the years 2003 to 2007 using information on deaths due to circulatory disease obtained from Datasus reports. Data on daily levels of pollutants, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide (SO2), ozone, temperature, and humidity were obtained from the São Paulo State Environmental Agency. Moving average models for 2 to 7 days were calculated by Poisson regression using the R software. Exposure to SO2 was analyzed using a unipollutant, bipollutant or multipollutant model adjusted for mean temperature and humidity. The relative risks with 95%CI were obtained and the percent decrease in risk was calculated. There were 1928 deaths with a daily mean (± SD) of 1.05 ± 1.03 (range: 0-6). Exposure to SO2 was significantly associated with mortality due to circulatory disease: RR = 1.04 (95%CI = 1.01 to 1.06) in the 7-day moving average, after adjusting for ozone. There was an 8.5% decrease in risk in the multipollutant model, proportional to a decrease of SO2 concentrations. The results of this study suggest that residents of medium-sized Brazilian cities with characteristics similar to those of São José dos Campos probably have health problems due to exposure to air pollutants.

The role of eco-attraction in the intention to conduct low-carbon actions: a study of visitor behavior in urban forests

This study aims to see the relationship between per capita income and the Gini ratio on the quality of life of 22 cities on the island of Sumatra as a reference. The data used in this study are secondary data and primary data. The secondary data used in this study are data on income per capita and the Gini ratio in 2020 sourced from BPS, and primary data obtained from SUSENAS for the calculation of Quality of Life. The analytical model used in this study is the Scatter plot model or the Klassen Typology model to determine the relationship between two variables, namely the division of Quadrant I, Quadrant II, Quadrant III, and Quadrant IV. The results of this study indicate that there are several cities that fall into different categories in each quadrant with the following information: Quadrant (1) cities that are included in the classification of per capita income and high Gini ratio and high quality of life; Quadrant (2) cities that have a low per capita income and Gini ratio but high quality of life; quadrant (3) cities located in quadrant three with low per capita income and Gini ratio and low quality of life; Quadrant (4) cities in quadrant 4 have a high per capita income and Gini ratio but low quality of life. The government should pay more attention to small cities, such as by building infrastructure in these cities so that they become cities that attract tourists to increase sources of regional income.