Green Cities

Research:

- Frumkin H, Eysenbach M. How Cities Use Parks to Improve Public Health. American Planning Association, City Parks Forum Briefing Paper #7. Washington: American Planning Association, 2004. Available: http://www.planning.org/cpf/pdf/improvepublichealth.pdf.

- Frumkin H. Health of Places, Wealth of Evidence. In: Barlett PF, Ed. Urban Place: Reconnecting with the Natural World. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2004.

- Frumkin H. Cities, Suburbs, and Urban Sprawl. In: Freudenberg N, Vlahov D, Galea S, Eds. Urban Health. Nashville: Vanderbilt University Press, 2005.

Policy:

Policymakers:

- Europe: In January 2006 the document regarding strategy on the urban environment was published.

- Dutch Government: Policy is discussed in the country report

- KCGS : In the Netherlands, urban policy combines expertise with financial and human resources in dealing with the economic, social and physical aspects of cities. The underlying objective is to create ‘the comprehensive city’. An economically vibrant city, with full employment and safe and habitable neighbourhoods.
The purpose of KCGS International is to gather, enrich and disseminate knowledge of urban policy in the Netherlands and in the wider European context.

Lobby organizations:

- Groenforum (NL): Groenforum is a platform of organizations, companies and government institutions to promote investments in nature / natural elements in urban environments.

- Natuur en Milieu : The Foundation 'Natuur en Milieu' aims at rich nature, a varied countryside and a clean and green living environment.

Best Practices:

- Evergreen :

- Healing gardens : Throughout history gardens have been used to aid in the healing process - from the Japanese Zen Garden to the Monastic Cloister garden. However, with the advances in medical technology in the 20th century, the use of gardens as healing elements began to diminish. Fortunately with the recent interest in complementary and alternative therapies, which emphasizes healing the whole person -- mind, body, and spirit -- rather than simply alleviating symptoms, the interest in garden as healer has been revived.

- the campaign site of Healthy Plants in the Workplace

- Reported impacts of interior plantscaping in office environments in the United states

- Plants for People (E,G, FR) is an international initiative to promote and spread knowledge about health effects of plants in a working environment

- Plants in buildings: A web site that provides inspiration and technical advice on all aspects of interior landscaping.