Health Benefits

• Author(s): Marily Oppezzo, Daniel L Schwartz

• Organization: Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory and Cognition

• Date Published: April 21, 2014

Stanford University published a study on the positive impact that walking has on creative thinking and, if there’s anything that nature is good for, it’s walking.

https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/xlm-a0036577.pdf

• Author(s): Louise C Hawla et al

• Organization: Health and Place

• Date Published: March 1, 2014

This paper investigates how green schoolyards can reduce stress and promote protective factors for resilience in students. It documents student responses to green schoolyards in Maryland and Colorado in the United States under three conditions: young elementary school children__s play in wooded areas during recess; older elementary school children__s use of a naturalized habitat for science and writing lessons; and high school students__ involvement in gardening. Drawing on ethnographic observations and interviews, it describes how the natural areas enabled students to escape stress, focus, build competence, and form supportive social groups. These findings have implications for theories of resilience and restoration and school interventions for stress management.

http://benefitshub.ca/entry/green-schoolyards-as-havens-from-stress-and-resources-for-resilience-in-chi/?utm_source=LINNEWS&utm_campaign=193d940905-LINsider_Ebulletin_January_15_20151_15_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_47938fb223-193d940905-56390789

• Author(s): Simon Bell, Val Hamilton, Alicia Montarzino, et al.

• Organization: Greenspace Scotland (http://www.greenspacescotland.org.uk/)

• Date Published: August 1, 2008

This review from Scotland investigates a number of components, including:
– Health and wellbeing
– Social and community value of greenspaces
– Economic value/impacts of greenspaces
– Environmental value of greenspaces
– Planning and design
The review found an increasing evidence base supporting the health benefits of greenspace, but also highlights areas where addition research is needed. This includes evidence related to community capacity and greenspace, biodiversity values of greenspace and ecological connectivity in urban greenspace.

http://benefitshub.ca/entry/greenspace-and-quality-of-life-a-critical-literature-review-research-report/

• Author(s): Cheryl Charles and Alicia Loge

• Organization: Children & Nature Network (http://www.childrenandnature.org/)

• Date Published: January 1, 2013

This resource is an annotated bibliography with a focus on the health benefits to children from contact with the outdoors. The evidence is grouped into four main sections:
1. Literature Reviews & Overview Documents – These articles summarize literature related to outdoor and nature contact and children’s health and well-being
2. Mental Health Benefits – These articles examine relationships between children’s contact with the outdoors and/or nature and their psychological and cognitive performance and functioning
3. Physical Health Benefits – These articles examine linkages between the design of children’s environments, children’s outdoor-related behavior and their physical health, including physical activity, development, and functioning
4. Other Health Benefits – These articles highlight other health benefits from children’s contact with the outdoors and/or nature, as well as benefits to children’s development of life assets, such as attitudes and behaviors towards the environment

http://www.childrenandnature.org/downloads/CNNHealthBenefits2012.pdf

• Date Published: November 11, 2008

Developed at the 2011 Heatlhy by Nature Conference

https://hin.bcrpa.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/formidable/6/HealthybyNature-charter-web.pdf

• Author(s): Cecilly Maller, et al.

• Organization: Health Promotion International http://heapro.oxfordjournals.org/

• Date Published: December 31, 2005

This paper presents a summary of empirical, theoretical and anecdotal evidence drawn from a literature review of the human health benefits of contact with nature. Recommendations include further investigation of ‘contact with nature’ in population health, and examination of the benefits of nature-based interventions.

http://www.parks-parcs.ca/english/pdf/healthy-nature-healthy-people.pdf

• Author(s): Cecily Maller, Claire Henderson-Wilson, Anita Pryor, et al.

• Organization: Deakin University and Parks Victoria www.deakin.edu.au

• Date Published: January 2, 2008

This report highlights that “there is a clear message for park managers to join public health fora, as not only
do parks protect the essential systems of life and biodiversity, but they also are a fundamental setting for health promotion and the creation of well being, that to date has not been fully recognized.” This report also provides recommendations to government departments, planners, park management bodies, and health policy makers to support further research; encourage and facilitate the re-positioning of parks; and develop ways of integrating parks and nature into public health.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228644595_Healthy_parks_healthy_people_The_health_benefits_of_contact_with_nature_in_a_park_context

• Author(s): Hertzen L et al.

• Organization: Annals of Medicine

• Date Published: July 1, 2015

Most people in the world live in cities; the Helsinki report confirms that this disconnection from nature is literally making humanity sick. It was written and released by a collection of top medical professionals including Dr. John Bienenstock, Member of the Order of Canada and famed immunologist.

The above is an excerpt from the Helsinki Alert of Biodiversity and Health, a report released by the international medical community that confirms the vital connection between nature and human health, a message that has been at the core of Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) programs for more than 50 years.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/275359599_Helsinki_alert_of_biodiversity_and_health