The Benefits of Nature

“There is growing evidence to suggest that exposure to natural environments can be associated with mental health benefits. Proximity to green space has been associated with lower levels of stress (Thompson et al., 2012) and reduced symptomology for depression and anxiety (Beyer et al., 2014), while interacting with nature can improve cognition for children with attention deficits (Taylor and Kuo, 2009) and individuals with depression (Berman et al., 2012).”

“The great outdoors? Exploring the mental health benefits of natural environments”, David Pearson, National Institute of Health, Oct 21, 2014

“New research suggests nature can help your brain work better.” 

Can Green Spaces Make Children Smarter? Washington Post, June 29, 2015

“A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Essex and published by the mental health organization Mind found that taking a walk in nature reduced depression scores in 71 percent of participants.”

Benefits of EcoTherapy, Lecia Bshak, Medical Daily, October 26, 2013

“Study finds that walking in nature yields measurable mental benefits and may reduce risk of depression.”

Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment Stanford Report, Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, June 30, 2015

“This study reveals a pathway by which nature experience may improve mental well-being and suggests that accessible natural areas within urban contexts may be a critical resource for mental health in our rapidly urbanizing world.”

“City dwellers have 20% higher risk of anxiety disorders and 40% higher risk of mood disorders as compared to people in rural areas. People born and raised in cities are twice as likely to develop schizophrenia”

Nature Experience Reduces Rumination and Subgenual Prefrontal Cortex Activation, Gregory N. Bratman, J. Paul Hamilton, Kevin S. Hahn, Gretchen C. Daily, and James J. Gross, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), June 29, 2015

“Time in nature found to have a positive effect on mood and aspects of cognitive function, as well as a dampening effect on anxiety.”

Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment Stanford Report, Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, June 30, 2015

Article on The Natural Capital Project and Gretchen Daily, one of the pioneers in the growing worldwide effort to protect the environment by quantifying the value of “natural capital” — nature’s goods and services that are fundamental for human life — and factoring these benefits into the calculations of businesses and governments.

An Economist for Nature Calculates the Need for More Protection, John Moir, New York Times, Aug. 8, 2011