Healthy Parks Healthy People is far more than just the key message for this Congress.
An extensive literature review, conducted by Deakin University in 2002 (and updated in 2008), found well over two hundred respected journal articles reporting research that indicated the human health benefits of contact with nature could not be overstated.
Evidence came from fields as diverse as ecology, biology, environmental psychology and psychiatry to show that access to nature plays a vital role in human health, wellbeing and development. Research indicates that humans may be dependent on nature for psychological, emotional and spiritual needs that are difficult to satisfy by other means.
Evidence in literature shows that viewing nature is positive for health in terms of recovering from stress and improving concentration and productivity. Other studies demonstrate that plants and nearby vegetation can have profound effects, including facilitation of healing in the elderly and mentally disadvantaged, improving job and life satisfaction of residents, improved mental capacity and productivity of office workers, attracting consumers and tourists to shopping districts and aiding community cohesion and identity.
Parks and other natural environments are a fundamental health resource, particularly in terms of disease prevention. The initial evidence documenting the positive effects of nature on blood pressure, cholesterol, outlook on life and stress-reduction is sufficient to warrant incorporation into strategies for the Australian National Health Priority Area of ‘mental health’ and ‘cardiovascular disease’, which worldwide will be the biggest contributors to disease by 2020.
Human health and wellbeing is taking on an expanded role in triple bottom line reporting and sustainability. With triple bottom line reporting now measuring and reporting corporate performance against economic, social and environmental parameters, to be an innovative leader the modern organisation must incorporate the important link between nature and wellbeing, health, productivity and even economic success.
Did you know?
“There are over 670,000 preventable hospital admissions in Australia each year.”
Source: The Hon Nicola Roxon MP, Minister for Health and Ageing
“The most common motivation reported for visiting Protected Areas is the enjoyment or experience of nature.”
Source: Tourism and Transport Forum
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