One of the most fundamental components of sustainable development involves ensuring that people of all ages can lead healthy lives.
The World Health Organization reports that the proportion of adults worldwide living with obesity more than doubled between 1990 and 2024. Mental wellbeing and the places where people live also deserve attention. Research on nearby green space helps explain that connection.
What is Good Health and Wellbeing (Sustainable Development Goal 3)?
Good Health and Wellbeing is the third of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Its aim is to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages, from reducing maternal and child mortality to widening universal health coverage and protecting mental health. Its targets also address illness linked to pollution.
ForestNation’s planting programme in Tanzania supports reforestation and paid work planting and caring for trees. Our impact methodology page explains how we estimate the programme’s contribution. If you would like to share that care with someone, the Happiness Habit programme offers digital Gift Stories that pair a personal message with a tree planting contribution in Tanzania.
Key Takeaways
- Good Health and Wellbeing is UN Sustainable Development Goal 3: healthy lives and well-being for all at all ages.
- SDG 3 includes mental health and reducing illness linked to pollution.
- Accessible green spaces offer places to be active and connect with others, with WHO research linking green space and wellbeing.
- ForestNation’s planting programme in Tanzania contributes to reforestation and paid work (see the method).
- The Happiness Habit programme combines personal messages with tree planting through digital Gift Stories.
How Trees Can Help Good Health and Wellbeing
A tree-lined path gives people a place to walk, meet a friend or take a break outdoors. A 2025 World Health Organization summary links access to green space with physical activity, mental wellbeing and social health. These are reasons to make nearby green spaces welcoming and accessible, so people can use them in everyday life.
One 2019 study of 19,806 adults found that people who reported spending at least two hours in nature during the previous week were more likely to report good health and wellbeing than those reporting no nature visits. This was an observational study, so it cannot show that time outdoors caused the difference or establish a prescribed amount of time outdoors. Our guide to the research on time in nature explores the study.
To learn more about the Sustainable Development Goals, visit the United Nations website.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sustainable Development Goal 3?
Sustainable Development Goal 3, Good Health and Wellbeing, is one of the seventeen United Nations goals. It aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages, covering maternal and child health, infectious and non-communicable disease, mental health, and universal health coverage. You can read the full goal on the United Nations website.
How do trees support good health and wellbeing?
Nearby trees and green spaces offer places for walking, spending time with others and taking a break. A World Health Organization summary associates green space with physical activity and mental and social health. Research on time in nature explores how time outdoors relates to people’s reported health and wellbeing.
Does planting trees help people as well as the planet?
Planting programmes can contribute to reforestation and livelihoods. ForestNation’s programme in Tanzania includes paid work planting and caring for trees. The impact methodology page explains the estimated environmental and employment contribution.
How can I make wellbeing a regular habit?
Choose a small action that fits your day: a walk in nearby green space or a message to someone you care about. The Happiness Habit programme offers digital Gift Stories that combine a personal message with a tree planting contribution in Tanzania.
