Forest Walking Study Strengthens the Investment Case for Urban Green Space

Seoul, 15 August 2026 – A South Korean study has found that walking through forested surroundings can cool the body faster than moving along exposed city streets during a heat wave, adding physiological evidence to the case for urban green infrastructure. The finding shifts the discussion from trees as visual amenities toward their role in public health, climate adaptation and workforce resilience.

Forested routes reduce direct solar exposure and alter the thermal environment through shade and evapotranspiration. The body’s response depends on air temperature, humidity, wind and radiant heat, so a shaded forest path can feel materially cooler even when nearby weather stations report similar conditions. Measuring physiological recovery helps planners understand the benefit experienced by pedestrians rather than relying only on ambient temperature.