City noise can be excessive and comprise numerous sources, such as engines, horns, construction, traffic, loud music, and machinery. The World Health Organization recommends that noise levels should not exceed 55 decibels (dB). In Europe, more than 30% of the population live in places where the sound exceeds the safe limit. Noise pollution can cause hearing loss and contribute to stress, sleep disruption, and serious health issues like heart attacks and strokes.
The hard surfaces in cities reflect most of the sound waves that hit them without lessening the sound. The leaves and branches of shrubs and trees dampen noise by absorbing, deflecting, or refracting sound waves. Even the porous soil within green spaces absorbs some sound waves. A buffer strip of dense vegetation with a variety of heights and foliage is an effective noise reduction strategy. Vegetation buffers are able to dampen noise by 5 to 10 dB for every 30 metres of width.
Nature-based solutions (NBS) that incorporate trees and shrubs can also mask noise pollution. They create desirable sounds when the breeze blows the leaves. Vegetation attracts birds and insects that also create desirable sounds, thereby masking noise pollution.
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