Fast Fact Library

The Landscape Performance Series Fast Fact Library is a searchable collection of landscape benefits derived from published research. Each includes a citation and links to the full article when available.

This resource is intended to showcase landscape’s multiple and sometimes surprising environmental, economic and social benefits and to help you make the case for sustainable landscape solutions in your community, with your clients, or on Capitol Hill.

Know of additional research that would make a compelling addition? Help build the database by sending your suggestions to email hidden; JavaScript is required.

Tessler, Michael, Felix J. David, Seth W. Cunningham, and Emily M. Herstoff. Rewilding in Miniature: Suburban Meadows Can Improve Soil Microbial Biodiversity and Soil Health. Microbial Ecology 85, 1077–1086 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-023-02171-4

Topics

Populations & species richness, Native plants, Biodiversity, Conservation, Restoration

Cohen, Deborah A., Meghan Talarowski, Bing Han, Deborah R. Young, Sarah Eng, and Thomas L. McKenzie. 2022. “Playground Design and Physical Activity” American Journal of Preventative Medicine 64, no. 3: 326-333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2022.10.012

Topics

Recreational & social value, Health & well-being, Play equipment, Active living, Play

Wei, Dandan, Andrew Reinmann, Luke D. Schifer, and Roisin Commane. High resolution modeling of vegetation reveals large summertime biogenic CO2 fluxes in New York City. Environmental Research Letters 17, 12 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aca68f.

Topics

Carbon sequestration & avoidance, Trees

Donovan, Geoffrey H., Jeffrey P. Prestemon, Demetrios Gatziolis, Yvonne L. Michael, Abigail R. Kaminski, and Payam Dadvand. “The association between tree planting and mortality: A natural experiment and cost-benefit analysis.” Environment International 170 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2022.107609.

Topics

Health & well-being, Trees, Health care, Complete streets

Schwartz, Sam. (April 2022). “Asphalt Art Safety Study: Historical Crash Analysis and Observational Behavior Assessment at Asphalt Art Sites.” Bloomberg Philanthropies. https://assets.bbhub.io/dotorg/sites/43/2022/04/Asphalt-Art-Safety-Study.pdf

Topics

Safety, Transportation, Public art, Traffic calming, Complete streets

Graham, Maggie, Serkan Ates, Andony P. Melathopoulos, Andrew R. Molkdenke, Sandra J. DeBano, Lincoln R. Best, and Chad W. Higgins. ”Partial shading by solar panels delays bloom, increases floral abundance during the late-season for pollinators in a dryland, agrivoltaic ecosystem”. Scientific Reports 11, 7452 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-86756-4.

Topics

Habitat creation, preservation & restoration, Populations & species richness, Energy use, Onsite energy generation, Biodiversity

Park, Yujin, Jean-Michel Guldmann, and Deshen Liu. “Impacts of Tree and Building Shades on the Urban Heat Island: Combining Remote Sensing, 3D Digital City and Spatial Regression Approaches.” Computers, Environment and Urban Systems 88 (2021): 131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compenvurbsys.2021.101655.

Topics

Temperature & urban heat island, Trees

Kuo, Ming, Samantha E Klein, Matthew HEM Browning, and Jaime Zaplatosch. “Greening for academic achievement: Prioritizing what to plant and where.” Landscape and Urban Planning 206 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2020.103962.

Topics

Educational value, Trees, Learning landscapes

Chausson, Alexandre, Beth Turner, Dan Seddon, Nicole Chabaneix, Cécile A. J. Girardin, Valerie Kapos, Isabel Key, Dilys Roe, Alison Smith, Stephen Woroniecki, and Nathalie Seddon. “Mapping the effectiveness of nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation.” Global Change Biology 26, 11 (2020): 6134-6155. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15310.

Topics

Resilience

Help build the LPS: Find out how to submit a case study and other ways to contribute.