Why are Urban Parks and Forests important?
1. Mental & Physical Health Benefits
2. Community Cohesion
3. Economic Element of Benefits to Nature
4. Additional Benefits
1. Parks, Urban Nature, and Health Benefits
Parks have long been considered essential elements of city life; however, size, quality, quantity, and many other variations of parks differ from city to city and within cities. In addition to giving human beings a break from highly developed city life, parks are now being understood as necessary to sustain the environment and health of the city. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) explains how city parks can have a tremendous positive impact on residents' physical and mental wellbeing.
Urbanization trends and mental disorders are on the rise and may be linked. While the causes of mental health in the general human population are varied, exposure to natural environments can help to reduce stress in humans and improve mental health. When people interact with nature, their mental health often improves, and their anxiety decreases.
Poor health increased in urban societies due to increased sedentary work, fast urban living, and working with computers; researchers discovered the relationship between forest and human health and stated that forest visits promote physical and psychological health by reducing stress. Some call forests natural pharmacies—research on the therapeutic benefits of nature focused on stress reduction and recovery. For example, parks help reduce stress and help recover from fatigue, enhancing psychological and physical rehabilitation. The research team found that forests can prevent illnesses such as stress and cure diseases such as depression.
Forest visits could strengthen the human immune system. Spending more time in the park can increase natural killer (NK) activity in humans. These NK cells can kill tumor cells by releasing anti-cancer proteins; nature visits may have a preventive effect on cancer generation and development. Furthermore, walking in a park can reduce salivatory cortisol (stress hormone) in the human body and decrease blood glucose levels in diabetic patients. A sedentary lifestyle and lack of exercise are significant threats to public health. Research suggests that spending time in green environments motivates people to exercise, significantly impacting physical and mental benefits and reducing the problems of obesity.
Exposure to extensive nature has been found to improve human health, certain cognitive functions, and social cohesion.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent behavioral disorder in children. And research shows that most would benefit from exposure to green space; therefore, children's ADHD symptoms are reduced. Findings suggest that children with ADHD who play regularly in green play settings have milder symptoms than children who play inbuilt outdoor and indoor environments. Further, forms of green space ranging from neighborhood parks to shady backyards are often widely available at no cost.
Exercise as a physical benefit of engaging with nature
According to the World Health Organization, insufficient physical activity is now the fourth leading cause of premature mortality, contributing to approximately 3.2 million deaths. WHO has an action plan developed by consulting governments and involving multiple stakeholders such as health, sports professionals, and urban designers. This plan provides guidance on physical activity for 2018-2030; More active people for a healthier world.
Physical activity improves physical, psychological, and emotional wellbeing reducing the risk of lifestyle diseases, relieving stress, increasing positive mood, enhancing life skills, reducing mental fatigue, increasing concentration, and reducing aggressive behavior. Regular physical activity prevents heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and breast and colon cancer. It also helps prevent hypertension, overweight, and obesity and improves mental health. Investing in policies such as promoting walking, cycling, sport, active forms of recreation, for example, dancing and yoga, and urban gardening can contribute directly to achieving many of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) (WHO).
2. Community Cohesion and Inclusion
Research shows that individuals who engage with nature, hiking, and playing at a young age are more likely to feel a positive attitude toward nature as adults.
Environmental stewardship, such as tree planting, community-organized park cleanups, trash removal, and removing any signs of neglect, gives participants pride, joy, and belonging. Design researchers have known that community participation and civic pride by working toward common goals can effectively reduce violent crimes.
Familiarising people with plants and animals will make them feel safer and give them joy and a positive attitude towards nature.
3. Economic Element of Benefits to Nature
Growing stress among humans in urban areas not only cause problems for individuals but also for the economy. Anxiety and mood disorders cost Europeans €187.4 billion annually, accounting for 13.7% of work-related health issues. In England in 2007, it was estimated that depression and anxiety alone cost the British economy £16.4 due to health costs and lost workdays.
There is no simple answer to poor mental health issues, but increasing access to neighborhood vegetation cover can significantly increase economic savings.
The alleviation of mental health challenges through human engagement with nature in urban settings has much potential. Through original research, when minimum thresholds of urban vegetation cover are met, a significant reduction in poor mental health among the population can be achieved.
When cities implement green infrastructure to create climate-resilient areas in the face of climate change, property values increase, the site receives more business investment, and more social benefits are provided for residents.
4. Additional Benefits
Nature's benefits to the environment
Contemporary urban environments are prone to many risks, dangers, and pollution stemming from stormwater runoff, chemical and particulate air pollution, the urban heat island effect, flooding, and more. Urban parks and forests are a singular solution that can impact many of these challenges, including mitigating stormwater runoff and erosion, reducing heat waves and heat island effect, mitigating flooding and droughts, and improving air and water quality.
Parks, forests, and trees supply many ecosystem services that help create healthy living environments and restore degraded ecosystems. Forests mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon dioxide through trees' photosynthesis, improving air quality by depositing air pollutants to the vegetation canopy, reducing hot summer temperatures, and decreasing ultraviolet radiation. Parks also mitigate floods and droughts, lessen the effects of noise, recharge aquifers, maintain water and soil quality, and reduce erosion.
Trees and other green spaces reduce the urban heat island effect, and there is "evidence that aggression increases in higher ambient temperatures up to certain levels (i.e., 32 degrees of Celsius)". Therefore, the heat-reducing impact of green space may result in reduced crime.
Pollination: Wild pollinators
The economic and environmental benefits of biodiversity state that pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, birds, and bats benefit natural ecosystems. Insects are the most significant pollinators, with honeybees estimated to provide approximately 80% of all insect pollination. Pollinator diversity depends on ecosystems that are rich in diverse vegetation.
Forests and parks provide recreational, cultural, spiritual, and aesthetic services.
Thank you for reading! Let's build and save more local, urban green areas, forests, and parks!
Love, Lilla