Professor Cecil Konijnendijk is a Dutch expert who, for almost 30 years, studied and taught about the role of trees and green space in cities and towns. He is a leading world authority on green space governance and people-nature relationships.

A sound rule for urban planning from Professor Konijnendijk van den Bosch is that every home should have a view of at least three trees, every neighbourhood should have at least 30% tree canopy and everyone should only have to walk 300 metres to reach a park or green space.

It is a rule, increasingly adhered to abroad, that is today considered indispensable for a clean bill of physical and mental health.

I suppose it is now too late and practically impossible to emulate such a rule in our local planning legislation.

 

Dr Mark Said

Msida