---
DOAJ_listed: '1'
OA_place: publisher
OA_type: gold
_id: '22480'
abstract:
- lang: eng
  text: "Background:\r\nThe spatial distribution of tree canopies influences ecological
    functions and residents’ exposure to green spaces. Although several studies have
    examined green space configuration at neighborhood scales, evidence on tree canopy
    configuration at the municipal scale, an operational unit for urban planning,
    remains limited.\r\nMethods:\r\nWe conducted a nationwide ecological study of
    2,136 Swiss municipalities. Tree canopy coverage (PLAND), aggregation (AI, reflecting
    how tightly green patches are grouped together), patch density (PD, a measure
    of fragmentation), and area-weighted mean shape index (SHAPE_AM, a measure of
    shape complexity) were derived from 1-m canopy maps within municipality-specific
    populated areas. Natural-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality (2017–2019)
    were obtained from the Swiss National Cohort. Fully adjusted negative binomial
    regression models estimated associations between canopy metric and mortality for
    each IQR increase in the metrics.\r\nResults:\r\nHolding configuration constant,
    each IQR increase in canopy coverage (∼18%) was associated with a 3.6% [B: −0.036;
    95% CI: −0.078 – 0.005] reduction in cardiovascular mortality. Higher aggregation
    corresponded to a 4.3% [B: 0.043; 95% CI: 0.026–0.061], an 8.9% [B: 0.089; 95%
    CI: 0.059–0.119], and a 2.1% [B: 0.021; 95% CI: 0–0.042] higher number of natural-cause,
    cardiovascular, and cancer deaths respectively. Higher fragmentation was associated
    with a 3.3% [B: 0.033; 95% CI: 0.016–0.050], a 4.9% [B: 0.049; 95% CI: 0.020–0.078],
    and a 2.2% [B: 0.022; 95% CI: 0.001–0.043] increase in these causes respectively.
    No meaningful associations were observed between shape complexity and any mortality
    outcomes. Associations for aggregation and fragmentation were generally stronger
    in highly urbanized municipalities.\r\nConclusions:\r\nAt the municipal scale,
    mortality was lower where tree canopy was distributed across several moderately
    sized, spatially balanced patches rather than highly aggregated or highly fragmented
    structures. These findings suggest that urban greening strategies should optimize
    its spatial configuration to maximize health benefits."
article_number: '110188'
article_processing_charge: No
article_type: original
author:
- first_name: Dengkai
  full_name: Chi, Dengkai
  last_name: Chi
- first_name: Gabriele
  full_name: Manoli, Gabriele
  last_name: Manoli
- first_name: Jun
  full_name: Yang, Jun
  last_name: Yang
- first_name: Daniel
  full_name: Richards, Daniel
  last_name: Richards
- first_name: Amy
  full_name: Hahs, Amy
  last_name: Hahs
- first_name: Brenda
  full_name: Lin, Brenda
  last_name: Lin
- first_name: Mark J.
  full_name: McDonnell, Mark J.
  last_name: McDonnell
- first_name: Ye
  full_name: Zhang, Ye
  last_name: Zhang
- first_name: Yue
  full_name: Zhu, Yue
  last_name: Zhu
- first_name: Yeshan
  full_name: Qiu, Yeshan
  last_name: Qiu
- first_name: Jing
  full_name: Wang, Jing
  last_name: Wang
- first_name: Xing
  full_name: Zheng, Xing
  last_name: Zheng
- first_name: Paolo
  full_name: Burlando, Paolo
  last_name: Burlando
- first_name: Simone
  full_name: Fatichi, Simone
  id: cf8e546b-a9b0-11f0-a43b-aa89ed1b56d6
  last_name: Fatichi
- first_name: Puay Yok
  full_name: Tan, Puay Yok
  last_name: Tan
citation:
  ama: 'Chi D, Manoli G, Yang J, et al. Tree canopy configuration and Swiss adult
    mortality at the municipal level: A nationwide ecological study. <i>Environment
    International</i>. 2026;209. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2026.110188">10.1016/j.envint.2026.110188</a>'
  apa: 'Chi, D., Manoli, G., Yang, J., Richards, D., Hahs, A., Lin, B., … Tan, P.
    Y. (2026). Tree canopy configuration and Swiss adult mortality at the municipal
    level: A nationwide ecological study. <i>Environment International</i>. Elsevier.
    <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2026.110188">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2026.110188</a>'
  chicago: 'Chi, Dengkai, Gabriele Manoli, Jun Yang, Daniel Richards, Amy Hahs, Brenda
    Lin, Mark J. McDonnell, et al. “Tree Canopy Configuration and Swiss Adult Mortality
    at the Municipal Level: A Nationwide Ecological Study.” <i>Environment International</i>.
    Elsevier, 2026. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2026.110188">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2026.110188</a>.'
  ieee: 'D. Chi <i>et al.</i>, “Tree canopy configuration and Swiss adult mortality
    at the municipal level: A nationwide ecological study,” <i>Environment International</i>,
    vol. 209. Elsevier, 2026.'
  ista: 'Chi D, Manoli G, Yang J, Richards D, Hahs A, Lin B, McDonnell MJ, Zhang Y,
    Zhu Y, Qiu Y, Wang J, Zheng X, Burlando P, Fatichi S, Tan PY. 2026. Tree canopy
    configuration and Swiss adult mortality at the municipal level: A nationwide ecological
    study. Environment International. 209, 110188.'
  mla: 'Chi, Dengkai, et al. “Tree Canopy Configuration and Swiss Adult Mortality
    at the Municipal Level: A Nationwide Ecological Study.” <i>Environment International</i>,
    vol. 209, 110188, Elsevier, 2026, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2026.110188">10.1016/j.envint.2026.110188</a>.'
  short: D. Chi, G. Manoli, J. Yang, D. Richards, A. Hahs, B. Lin, M.J. McDonnell,
    Y. Zhang, Y. Zhu, Y. Qiu, J. Wang, X. Zheng, P. Burlando, S. Fatichi, P.Y. Tan,
    Environment International 209 (2026).
das_tickbox: '1'
date_created: 2026-07-27T12:30:23Z
date_published: 2026-03-01T00:00:00Z
date_updated: 2026-08-03T14:17:29Z
day: '01'
ddc:
- '550'
doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2026.110188
extern: '1'
external_id:
  pmid:
  - '41812348'
fulldoi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2026.110188
has_accepted_license: '1'
intvolume: '       209'
keyword:
- Aggregation
- Fragmentation
- Green space exposure
- Green space morphology
- Green space structure
- Landscape metrics
- Shape complexity
language:
- iso: eng
main_file_link:
- open_access: '1'
  url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2026.110188
month: '03'
oa: 1
oa_version: Published Version
pmid: 1
publication: Environment International
publication_identifier:
  eissn:
  - 1873-6750
  issn:
  - 0160-4120
publication_status: published
publisher: Elsevier
quality_controlled: '1'
scopus_import: '1'
status: public
title: 'Tree canopy configuration and Swiss adult mortality at the municipal level:
  A nationwide ecological study'
tmp:
  image: /images/cc_by.png
  legal_code_url: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode
  name: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License (CC-BY 4.0)
  short: CC BY (4.0)
type: journal_article
user_id: 2DF688A6-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A87
volume: 209
year: '2026'
...