⏱ 2 min read
Background
The canton of Geneva is aiming for a tree canopy cover of 30% by 2070. Tree canopy is the area covered by the tops of trees. It helps cool the city during heatwaves. Researchers from the American university Harvard spent two years studying tree planting in Greater Geneva.
The key points
The Graduate School of Design of Harvard presented its study on urban forests in Geneva at the Rendez-vous de l’urbanisme. The presentation took place in the new auditorium of Pictet. The project was made possible by the La Gara Foundation, chaired by Rémy Best.
According to Léman Bleu, the canton’s tree cover stands at about 22 %. But it remains very uneven between neighbourhoods. Between 2013 and 2023, it grew by only one per cent. The researchers propose a “forest mosaic”: a network of forests across the territory. They compare trees to infrastructure, like water or electricity. They also recommend diversifying species, as some maples could suffer from rising temperatures.
The study relies on the “3-30-300” rule. Every resident should see three trees from their home, live in surroundings with 30% tree cover and live less than 300 metres from a park.
Key figures
- 30 % : the canton’s canopy target for 2070
- 22 % : current tree cover, approximately
- 1 % : canopy growth between 2013 and 2023
- 7,5 % : share of residents who meet the “3-30-300” criteria
Who says what
- Nicolas Walder (Geneva State Councillor): he welcomes this academic input and calls for the canopy to be seen as a “living infrastructure”.
- Sarah Whiting (dean of Harvard’s architecture department): the canton must review its strategy, even though its efforts are recognised.
- Rémy Best (president of the La Gara Foundation): trees are not only there to look good, they also cool us down.
What's next
- The recommendations are due to be presented to the Geneva authorities, according to Léman Bleu.
