Just over 78% of Wallonia's residents have access to a green space less than 300 metres from their homes, according to figures published on Tuesday by the Walloon Institute for Evaluation, Forecasting and Statistics, Iweps.
Just over 94% live within sight of at least three trees from their residences, according to Iweps.
However, only 10.6% live in neighbourhoods with at least 30% tree cover.
It is therefore clear that the 30% canopy cover requirement is the least common in the region. In general, this result illustrates the lack of trees at least three metres tall in residential areas. On average, the municipalities with the lowest percentages are not necessarily urban municipalities. However, it is in urban municipalities that the number of inhabitants affected by a lack of canopy cover is highest.
"Each of the three conditions 3-30-300 contributes to benefits for human physical and mental health. A large body of scientific literature shows that the presence of vegetation plays a central role in improving air quality, reducing stress and noise, providing opportunities for recreational activities, and regulating air temperatures, particularly during periods of high heat," the report emphasises.
The Walloon Region advocates for the implementation of the ‘3-30-300’ rule, which translates into: being able to see at least thee trees from one's home, living in neighbourhoods with 30% of tree cover; and access to a green space less than 300 metres from home.
‘This quantitative monitoring of the greening of living spaces must be accompanied at the local level by qualitative approaches in order to better characterise the current cover, its access and its effects, and to develop solutions adapted to each context,’ the report's authors argue.
Several Walloon municipalities, including Liège and Mons, have implemented greening plans.
