“Biophilia” is your own instinctive love of nature. The term was coined by E. O. Wilson, the esteemed conservation biologist.  Dr. Wilson argues that love of nature is innate and universal, transcending cultural and socioeconomic boundaries. In other words, people intuitively care about nature – and it shows: gardening is the #1 hobby in America, and bird watching has become a $25 billion industry.

Many of us have lost touch with our environment and this part of ourselves. The nature we are told to protect and revere is not just in the Brazilian rainforests or the redwoods of California, but also in the wooded open lot across the street, our local park, and in the way we live our daily lives – our culture.

Nature Makes You Feel Good

Our love of nature is not merely recreational, but a fundamental ingredient in a positive, healthy, and balanced lifestyle. In the weeks following the 9/11 tragedy, New York City parks reported record numbers of visitors, as people sought solace in the city’s green spaces.

Studies have shown that people living in apartments overlooking trees and a patch of grass reported feeling healthier, more productive, and less aggressive than neighbors whose views were alleys and concrete. They also scored higher on cognitive function tests. This is biophilia at work. More about this research.

Walking in the forest decreases the blood glucose levels of diabetic patients and people who view forest scenery for 20 minutes have less of the stress hormone cortisol than people viewing urban settings. Forest walking compared with city walking boosts the activity of natural killer cells, immune cells that fight cancer- an effect that may last for as long as 30 days. And in 2008, they reported that people living in areas with more forest cover had lower mortality rates for cancers of the lung, breast, uterus, prostate, kidney, and colon, compared with people living in areas with less forest cover, even after factoring in socioeconomic status. Can a stroll in the forest ward off cancer?

Further Reading:

Exposure to natural environments allows people to recover from mental fatigue. Kaplan, R. & S. Kaplan. 1989. The Experience of Nature: A psychological perspective? Cambridge Univ Press, NY.

The Cognitive Benefits of Nature

Exposure to nature is critical to our emotional and intellectual health, but as urban citizens, our culture is very disconnected. Humans evolved not in kitchens and office cubbies but outside in the natural world. These days, as we spend more time indoors, it’s harder to feel that connection to nature – which is why education is so important. Native plant gardens are one way to plug into our collective biophilia.

No Child Left Inside

It is important to get people excited about native plants, especially children. With television, computers and school activities competing for their attention, children are missing critical time outside.

This is a burgeoning field of research. So far, studies show that nature can be excellent therapy for depression, obesity, and attention deficit disorder. Regarding ADD, research concluded that such children function better than ususal after activities in green settings.

Play in nature has been shown to increase children’s cognitive flexibility, emotional capacity, critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, use of imagination, self-esteem and self-discipline.

Nature also introduces children to small, calculated risks, like jumping on rocks, crossing a creek on a log or climbing a tree. These activities teach kids their physical limitations and abilities and promote feelings of independence and accomplishment.

Further Reading:

• Louv, Richard. 2005. Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder.
• Children and Nature Network
• Reed-Sarbanes No Child Left Inside Act would create environmental literacy plans in every state, provide teacher training in environmental education and provide opportunities to teach children outdoors.